Over 100 local residents attended Thursday night’s first Borough-hosted meeting about the Alaska LNG Project in Nikiski, where they were engaged in a lively, straightforward conversation.
Don and Rebecca Bock said they believe meeting style with Borough Mayor Mike Navarre and Special Oil and Gas Assistant Larry Persily is what people have been wanting.
Rebecca: “Everybody wants to know what’s going to happen and when is it going to happen, and there’s just no way that they can let us know that.
Don: “At least not right yet. This project is just so big that I think it’s overwhelming a lot of folks.”
Nikiski resident Bonnie Miller said one issue that piqued her interest was the $800 million Impact Aid Funds that have been promised by BP, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon for the project.
Miller: “That’s very important and I think the discussion surrounding, is Nikiski going to see what’s rightfully ours is very important and we need to keep on top of that.”
Special Oil and Gas Assistant Larry Persily says that funding will not be issued until around 2019 when the final decision the project going forward or not is made.
Persily: “And that probably is sufficient to cover diret impacts, damages that are done in the communities during construction whether it’s roads, additional schools, expanding the airport parking lot, water sewer issues. It’s not a bonus, the $800 [million] isn’t intended to fix roads and then give everyone $1,000 extra for pain and suffering.”
Borough Mayor Navarre says this was the first meeting to engage the community by documenting their concerns and comments. He also urged them to take advantage of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s public comment period regarding the project’s Environmental Impact Statement which closes on December 4.
Navarre and Persily says the Borough will continue to host these kinds of updates, the next is set for 6:30 pm on December 10 at the Nikiski Recreation Center.