30 more years on the table

and you've got until September 10th to say anything about it.

The Bureau of Land Management just opened the process to renew the right of way for the trans Alaska pipeline. Roughly 30 more years of it running across federal land.

A right of way is just permission to run something across land you don't own. Renewing it keeps the oil moving.

The pipeline is 800 miles long and it's 49 years old. Construction ran from 1975 to 1977, which means most Alaskans alive today have never known this state without it.

The comment window opened August 27th and shuts September 10th. That's 15 days, and the length is what people are arguing about.

The BLM's Alaska director calls it an engineering marvel that's only growing in importance to Alaska's economy. Someone at Interior said they're optimistic about being quick.

A conservation group pushed back on that exact word, saying the process should be thorough and public, not rammed through.

You don't have to pick a side to have an opinion about a 15 day window on a 30 year decision.

Comments go through the BLM's e-planning portal, and the link is in the description below.