FOIA Request to Release Open Season Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Today gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request demanding that the Governor make public the results of the open season for a natural gas pipeline.

Walker said, “Now more than ever, we need openness in our government. Our governor continues to play hide-and-seek with Alaska’s future. Open the books. Show us the results. Our jobs and our economy depend on it. We can no longer afford delay after delay and business as usual with a Governor who is happy to continue playing politics instead of helping Alaskans create jobs.”

“Over $100 million of public funds has already gone into the Governor’s sham process, and the public has the right to know the results. Our governor should not keep Alaskans in the dark while secretly negotiating with the industry for a gasline into Canada. This is Alaska’s resource and our future,” Walker added.

The Governor has taken the position that the results of the open season, while available to the governor on July 31, will not become public until after the election in November.

In May, the Governor offered the North Slope oil companies $20 billion in additional handouts to build a gas pipeline into Canada. Walker’s FOIA request also demands access to information leading up to that decision as the producers are not on record as having asked for the money. July 31st is the last day that companies can submit bids to nominate gas to Parnell’s proposed Canadian gasline.

Read the FOIA Request Letter.