Alaska Democrats support NPRA bridge proposal

JUNEAU — Alaska Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to federal officials in support of a bridge to a petroleum prospect in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Democratic Rep. Les Gara of Anchorage says the letter signed by 11 representatives and three senators is important to show bi-partisan support for the bridge, sought by ConocoPhillips across the Colville River for access to a field west of its Alpine oil field.

The letter says the bridge is crucial to keeping open the trans-Alaska pipeline.

The permit was denied by the Army Corps of Engineers in February 2010 due to environmental concerns, a decision ConocoPhillips appealed.

A spokeswoman for the Corps says the permit in December was remanded to the Anchorage office, which is gathering information for a reevaluation of the application.