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ANCHORAGE - Alaska Sen. Mark Begich said the Obama administration is frustrated with the lack of progress on a pipeline that could deliver North Slope natural gas to Lower 48 markets.

Begich said he wants President Obama to elevate the line to the national energy agenda instead of treating it as a state project.

He spoke Monday inAnchorage.

Begich said Obama has indicated that a natural gas pipeline is one of the top five projects he wants to move forward.

Gov. Sarah Palin and legislative leaders awarded a Canadian company, Calgary-based Trans Canada Corp., a state license to build a pipeline and with it up to $500 million in incentives.

A company formed by ConocoPhillips and BP PLC is proposing its own pipeline without the incentives.