Attorney general says US feeds state's interrelated problems BURNS: Oil development cited as support for families by providing jobs.

JUNEAU -- Alaska's new attorney general says overreach and overregulation by the federal government feed into the social and economic ills plaguing the state.

John J. Burns questions where the state's job rate would stand without resource development, and he adds that if families aren't supported by jobs, that stokes friction.

He says the problems "feed upon each other," and they are interdependent.

"If you don't have resource development, how do you have jobs?" Burns said in an interview. "If families don't have jobs, how do they support themselves? How do you avoid the friction that naturally flows within families when there are financial concerns, when there are concerns that the husbands or wives are not able to provide adequately?"

Burns' charge is to protect Alaskans and their interests. He inherited a full docket, including a spate of lawsuits with the federal government on issues ranging from health care and land development to special protections for certain species.

More lawsuits are possible, given the recent fired-up rhetoric of Gov. Sean Parnell.

The state is also in a long-term effort to curb epidemic rates of domestic violence and sexual assault against women.

"There is a recognition, regardless of what your political affiliation is, that Alaska needs to be able to develop its resources in order to ensure that the jobs are there so that families can stay healthy, so that communities can thrive," Burns said. "It's just a matter of how."

The state has no qualms about suing to protect its sovereignty and right to develop its resources, he said, but it's an option of last resort. He said as much as possible Alaska is seeking to be proactive, to be a part of the debate and participate in the development of regulations that affect the development of oil, gas and other natural resources.

Oil provides nearly 90 percent of the state's unrestricted revenue.

"I am hoping it (the situation) is at a tipping point federally," he said.

President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address last month, talked about developing the nation's resources and being competitive globally.

Burns believes federal officials are seeking to regulate where they could not legislate, and members of Congress -- including those in Alaska's own delegation -- "need to basically step in and do regulatory oversight."

Last week, Alaska's U.S. senators and Parnell condemned the remand of air permits issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for an Arctic drilling plan. An official for Shell Alaska said the EPA action was the final factor in a decision to delay plans for drilling this year.

"The concern is that it is reflective of an attitude by a federal administration that, essentially, we don't want development. We are not going to condone it nor are we going to promote it," Burns said. "But, you know, they can't say that. They can't say those words because then there's a basis to do some litigation, serious litigation."

Burns believes his department has the resources it needs to handle its current workload. He's hopeful for the future, seeing tremendous opportunities in and for the state.
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