North Slope

North Slope Borough adopts eminent domain policy reaching beyond the seawall

The North Slope Borough adopted an eminent domain policy Tuesday, its first its lawyers could find, and cut the seawall name so it can reach other projects.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Kaktovik glycol response cost roughly $200,000, North Slope mayor estimates

North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak says Kaktovik's glycol response cost roughly $200,000. He wants the state to require glycol testing.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

ConocoPhillips seeks five more years of North Slope off-road travel; comments due Friday

ConocoPhillips wants to keep driving and building ice roads on state land on the North Slope for five more years. Its current permit expires Dec. 17.

by Maggie AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readFrom Sep 10

State proposes five snowmachine trails near Wiseman after Dalton corridor transfer

The state proposes five snowmachine trails near Wiseman, part of its promise after subsistence users lost their federal priority in the Dalton corridor.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 7

Utqiagvik voters approve 10% marijuana tax in unofficial count

Utqiagvik voters approved a marijuana tax increase from 8% to 10% on Tuesday, 433 to 272, pending final canvass in October.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: Utqiagvik's council can pause the sales tax five more years without a vote

Interior lets BLM skip environmental assessments for qualifying NPR-A winter exploration

Starting Friday, qualifying winter oil exploration in the petroleum reserve can skip a separate environmental assessment, barring extraordinary circumstances.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

FAA keeps plowing roads to Alaska navigation beacons as it retires others

The FAA pays local crews to plow roads to Alaska's radio navigation beacons each winter, even as it retires more than a dozen others in favor of GPS.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read

Legislative committee has no oil and gas consultants under contract, chair says

Alaska lawmakers have no oil and gas consultants under contract, with a gas pipeline project and a new administration coming. Senators want that fixed.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Snow covers just under a quarter of Alaska as September ends

Just under a quarter of Alaska had snow on the ground by Sept. 30, broadly similar to last year. By the end of October, 90% of Arctic lands usually do.

by Alaska News1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 3

Live Alaska local results: Fairbanks, Kodiak and Wasilla report first totals

Fairbanks Assembly Seat D is separated by 123 votes, Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly by 16 and Kodiak Island Borough Assembly by six.

by Alaska News1mo ago11 min readFrom Oct 7, 2025

Alaska LNG report targets 2028 completion for in-state pipeline

Alaska LNG's latest federal report keeps its 2028 pipeline target and, as always, lists no long-term contracts. Seoul says its money is under review.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago3 min read

North Slope oil throughput back above 500,000 barrels a day, former commissioner says

North Slope oil is back above 500,000 barrels a day, at least on some days. Oil-tax defenders credit the 2013 tax law and expect a fight in Juneau.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: North Slope oil is running below the state's forecast so far, and the price is running above it

Alaska Communications presses FCC to block or condition GCI-Quintillion sale

Alaska Communications asked the FCC to block or restrict GCI's $310 million purchase of Quintillion unless rivals get guaranteed access to the undersea fiber network at regulated prices.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago5 min readFrom May 19

Follows: GCI is buying the only fiber link connecting Alaska's Arctic coast to the state

North Slope Borough ballot carries 11 bond propositions totaling $1.55 billion

North Slope Borough voters will decide on 11 bond propositions totaling $1.55 billion on Oct. 6, alongside races for mayor, five Assembly seats and four school board seats.

by Lucas Brown1mo ago3 min read

Trump says South Korea is still studying Alaska LNG, threatens to 'double it up'

Trump now says South Korea is "still studying" Alaska LNG, two days after his team touted $50 billion-plus in Korean money. He threatened to "double it up."

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: Trump says South Korea will finance $50 billion of Alaska LNG; Seoul hasn't committed

Seoul protested U.S. Alaska LNG announcement, says investment remains under review

White House officials and Alaska leaders announced $50 billion-plus in Korean money for Alaska LNG. Seoul says it agreed only to review it, and protested.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago4 min read

Senate vote to advance data center utility cost bill fails 57-43

Senate blocked a bill asking states to consider making big data centers pay for grid upgrades. Alaska's senators voted yes; most Democrats called it optional.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Senate confirms Sonderling as labor secretary, 47-41

Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary, 47-41, with Alaska senators Murkowski and Sullivan voting yes.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

North Slope Borough mayor candidates clash over roads and litigation

Mayor Josiah Patkotak and challenger Harry Brower Jr. faced off ahead of the Oct. 6 North Slope Borough election. • Brower pushed for immediate road construction to cut costs. Patkotak touted $600 million in projects and a property tax waiver starting in 2027. • Both emphasized local control over oil and gas development and tackling drugs in villages.

by Alaska News1mo ago2 min read

Written comments on Willow drilling and injection rules are due Tuesday unless a Nov. 4 hearing is held

BLM wants to approve some NPR-A oil sites in 60 days by doing the big review once, up front. Here's what that means, and where Nuiqsut and others stand.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago4 min readFrom Sep 21

State gets new federal grant to oversee monitoring at Amchitka nuclear test site

The state has a new federal grant to keep watch over Amchitka, where the U.S. set off its biggest underground nuclear test. So far, it's $41,000 for five years.

by Alaska News1mo ago2 min read

ASRC Energy Services gets $13.9 million toward North Slope carbon storage hub planning

ASRC Energy Services received $13.9 million in federal funding to plan a North Slope carbon dioxide storage hub through 2028, with no construction decision or funding yet approved.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read

Tractor-trailer blocks Dalton Highway at Mile 320 in both directions, with delays expected to last hours

A tractor-trailer has the Dalton Highway blocked at Mile 320, the only road to the North Slope. Expect to wait: 511 says it could take multiple hours.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Olgoonik Corporation approves elder distribution for original shareholders 60 and older

Olgoonik elders who were original shareholders: confirm your address and payment details before Oct. 9 to receive this year's elder distribution.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State raises minimum bids to $35 an acre in annual North Slope and Beaufort Sea oil and gas lease sales

The state's yearly North Slope lease sale is back with a pricier entry fee: minimum bids rise from $25 to $35 an acre. Results come out Nov. 18.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

North Slope crude runs $15 above Alaska's spring forecast, budget group says

Alaska North Slope crude is averaging $90 a barrel, $15 above the spring forecast, potentially adding nearly $1 billion to state revenue this year if prices hold.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State lifts Kaktovik do-not-drink water order

Kaktovik residents can drink their tap water again. The state lifted its do-not-drink order Saturday after three weeks of antifreeze-chemical contamination.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Much of the Beaufort Sea's ice melted out in August after a cold, late start

A cold, cloudy spring slowed the melt off Alaska's north coast. Then August opened a hole north of Utqiaġvik, and much of the Beaufort's ice was gone.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

None of Anchorage's district projects got state money this year, city tells Assembly committee

Anchorage asked the state for neighborhood projects and got none. The port got $15 million. Now the city starts its 2027 wish list, due by Dec. 10.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Alaska's budget balances this year on high oil and a reduced dividend

Alaska's budget balances this year with $106 million to spare, thanks to oil running $19 a barrel high and a dividend set $1.2 billion below the formula.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State denies Florida company's bid to expand oil unit on the Arctic refuge border

A Florida company wanted three more leases added to its oil unit on the Arctic refuge border. The state says the leases had expired and showed no oil or gas.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Sep 18

Utqiagvik's council can pause the sales tax five more years without a vote

Utqiagvik's council can pause the city sales tax five more years on its own. The marijuana tax increase, meanwhile, has to go to the voters.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

At an industry forum, four candidates for governor made their case on resource development

At an industry forum, Alaska's four candidates for governor all backed more resource development. Where they differed was on what the state should pay for it.

by Alaska News1mo ago5 min read

Alaska lifts 500-day hiring and regulation freeze, no reason given

Alaska's 500-day freeze on state hiring, travel and new regulations is over. The order ending it runs four sentences and gives no reason at all.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Three virtual hearings this week will take comments on BLM's Arctic fast-track

Three virtual hearings begin Tuesday on a 60-day Arctic permitting rule that BLM says could roughly double development.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 8

The Dalton closes completely Tuesday morning for culvert work

The Dalton Highway shuts down completely Tuesday morning for about five hours, and there is no detour around the only road to the North Slope.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska governor candidates agree on Permanent Fund, split on taxes

Taylor and Bronson opposed broad new taxes; Kreiss-Tomkins backed targeted revenue as three candidates compared fiscal, energy and workforce plans

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago4 min read

Alaska's tribal college wins federal money for students and food knowledge

Alaska's only tribal college won $352,000 from the USDA to help students stay in school and to teach Iñupiaq food systems on the North Slope.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Sullivan bill would have Congress ratify ANWR Coastal Plain permits

Sullivan's bill would have Congress ratify the ANWR leasing permits — a move that would largely put them beyond challenge in federal court.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kaktovik's do-not-drink notice stays until sharper lab results arrive

Kaktovik's do-not-drink order is still in place. The North Tank starts refilling Friday, and new samples with finer detection limits are at the lab.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: Kaktovik flushes millions of gallons of glycol-tainted water after plant mistake