Natural Resources

Use and conserve

Fortunately, our lands in America–and particularly in Alaska—have been blessed with an abundance of natural resources.  The challenge is to put these resources to use for the good of the people while minimizing the footprint that such utilization can leave.

Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco has represented many prominent energy, mining, timber, and other groups in the business of using our resources to the best advantage without unduly damaging our environment and ecosystems.  Many well-known companies and government entities in Alaska are now or have been clients of Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco, including companies, municipalities, and tribal groups such as—

Timber

The firm has been involved in a variety of logging issues, particularly as they relate to the balance between enterprise and environmental preservation.  For many years, we have worked on a variety of federal administrative, litigation, and legislative matters concerning the Alaska timber industry.  These include the settlement of major administrative actions and litigation concerning the cancellation of the long term timber sale contract for the Ketchikan Pulp Company/Louisiana Pacific Corporation.

Mining

Over the years, we have represented a number of mining companies including Kennecot Corporation and Greens Creek Mining Company on issues including the expansion of mine operations and access to adjacent federal lands for mineral exploration and development.  In a major Supreme Court case involving a permit to store mine tailings in a permitted area of U.S. jurisdictional waters, the team won the case and the project resumed construction.

Oil, natural gas, and renewable energy development policy

Our oil, natural gas, and renewable energy development practice includes extensive work by our lawyers for many years on the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.  The Southeast Alaska Intertie Bill, worked on by Mr. Silver and passed some years ago, provided the financial authority for the U.S. Congress to contribute nearly $45 million to the construction of a conduit for hydroelectric power from Alaska.