!!!!! AK DNR COMMISH AND TOP STAFF RESIGN !!!!!
Irwin out as Natural Resources commissioner over pipeline memo
Memo criticizing state concessions leads to commissioner's resignation
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By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer
Published: October 27, 2005
Last Modified: October 27, 2005 at 06:24 PM
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - State Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin is out of a job after writing a memo questioning the legality of state concessions to oil producers during contract negotiations for a natural gas pipeline.
Gov. Frank Murkowski said Thursday the two mutually agreed that Irwin should leave because he could not support the terms of the contract. He said it was Irwin's decision.
Others say he was forced out. Six high-ranking members of the Department of Natural Resources on Thursday turned in their resignations, effective Nov. 15, at news of Irwin's departure. All their letters of resignation contained the same key sentence: "I regret that I must take this action but I feel I have no alternative following the dismissal of Tom Irwin."
Murkowski said he expects differences of opinion within the gas negotiations, but not to the that point the state's team is not working together. The governor said he received a copy of the memo when Irwin sent it last Thursday, and he did not talk to Irwin until Saturday.
"I expect every member of my cabinet to confer with me on major policy issues, major policy disputes, as they arise," Murkowski said. "And I don't really consider a copy of an e-mail significant notification."
Murkowski's negotiators are trying to close a deal with three North Slope oil producers on long-term fiscal goals for a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope, through Canada and to markets in the Midwest. One of the producers, ConocoPhillips, has agreed to the state's base terms. The other two, BP and Exxon Mobil, have not yet responded.
Irwin wrote the memo Oct. 20 to state Attorney General David Marquez, criticizing state concessions in Murkowski's negotiations over the natural gas pipeline. Irwin wrote that legal questions surrounding gas pipeline negotiations were so great, they could force resignations from the state's gas pipeline team.
Irwin had maintained the memo was confidential, but Murkowski said the e-mail carried no such notation. He also questioned how confidential it was meant to be since it was sent to the governor's three offices across the state, and copied in to four other state officials.
Marquez, appearing alongside Murkowski at Thursday's news conference, said Irwin's contentions in the memo were wrong.
"The Gov. has broad authority to negotiate contracts on the state's behalf and to propose legislation," he wrote in his legal opinion.
Marquez also wrote that the issues Irwin raises are of policy, not of the law.
"The fact that you and your staff may have a different vision of what best serves the interests of the state as compared to others in the administration does not make their judgments - or yours - on fundamental policy issues either unlawful or improper," Marquez wrote.
Resigning from the department were: Division of Oil and Gas director Mark Myers; deputy commissioners Marty Rutherford and Dick Lefebvre; Mining, Land and Water director Bob Loeffler; Office of Program Management and Permitting director Bill Jeffress; and special assistant Nancy Welch.
Dan Saddler, spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources, said none of the seven leaving their jobs wanted to speak publicly about their actions or about Murkowski's announcement.
Others, though, were quick to condemn Murkowski for Irwin's departure.
"I think the message is we're going to go forward according to what (Murkowski) wants, and those who have questions about the legality of the gas line negotiations dare not ask those questions or they will regret it," said Sarah Palin, a Republican for Wasilla running for governor.
Alaska's legislative Democrats released a statement that said it was a sad day for Alaska when someone loses his job for asking good questions and for standing up for the state's best interests.
"We hope that Commissioner Irwin's departure, and the resignations of the department's other to professionals, don't compromise the department's ability to protect the best interest of Alaskans," the release read.
Irwin is the fifth cabinet member to leave the Murkowski cabinet this year. Former attorney general Gregg Renkes and Edgar Blatchford, the former commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, resigned under pressure from ethical allegations. Former Health Commissioner Joel Gilbertson left for a job in the private sector, as did former Administration Commissioner Ray Matiashowski.
Mike Menge, Murkowski's senior adviser on energy issues, was named to replace Irwin.
He noted it would be a difficult time being "under the bright light of public scrutiny," especially when the entire world has its eyes focused on Alaska's natural resources. |
