Apache Alaska is waiting for approval of one more permit before deciding if extending the North Road in Nikiski is feasible.
Spokeswoman Lisa Parker said the company recently received one of the two permits they had been waiting on.
Parker: “We received, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the eagle permit that we need that allows us to operate within a certain distance of the eagle nest that is near the road.”
The last permit needed is from the Army Corps of Engineers.
If that permit is approved, Apache will decide if building the North Road extension is feasible to access an oil exploration drill site.
Parker: “We have the dedicated right of way in place that the borough put in many years ago when they developed the Grey Cliffs subdivision so we have the dedicated right of way. It’s easier to build a road that you can use year-round versus putting in an ice road where you only have a limited amount of time that you can use that ice road.”
A couple of factors for feasibility Apache will consider are the amount of projects the company already has on hand and the potential for recovery from the proposed well.
