Congressional Delegation Says EPA Stalling Development

Alaska's congressional delegation attacked the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday during a hearing of the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  The Alaska's delegation says the EPA is creating roadblocks for development in Alaska.

Last Month, President Barack Obama announced plans to increase domestic oil and gas production, but U.S. Sen. Mark Begich says there is a disconnect between the president and his administration. 

"The people that are implementing the policies, the interior, EPA and others, are really hampering what we consider an important part of Alaska's economy in oil and gas development," Begich said in a phone interview.  

During the subcommitee hearing, U.S. Congressman Don Young accused the government of spending too much money overseas.

"Now that doesn't make sense to me, it never has made sense to me we spend billions of dollars overseas," said Young.  

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the EPA is stifling companies that are ready to move forward in the Arctic.  

"We had a good conversation about the EPA's role in really strangling Alaska's resource opportunity,"  Murkowski said in an interview. "The attention was focused on the incredible delay to Shell's air quality permit. Over five years, and over four billion dollars." 

But many environmental groups argue the EPA's permitting process is in place for a reason.

"What one agency my perceive as roadblocks, others might perceive as necessary for a way of healthy sustainable communities," said Toby Smith, Executive Director of the Alaska Center for the Environment. "We are talking about what the EPA is charged with, making sure that we have clean water, and clean air, and a healthy environment."