E2-Wire

Spending bill curbs EPA Alaskan air-quality role

by Ben Geman - 12/15/11 5:13 PM ET

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee panel that crafts EPA and Interior spending bills, called the language a vital step to spur drilling in Arctic waters.

“Transferring air quality authority from the EPA to Interior will place Alaska’s Arctic leases on a level playing field with the Gulf of Mexico and provide a level of predictability, without compromising environmental protections, for those companies willing to invest in the production of America’s energy,” said Murkowski, who is also the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Tags Lisa Murkowski