Gov. Sean Parnell has chosen a state geologist to take over the job of in-state gas pipeline coordinator, a position that was vacated last month. Bob Swenson "has a detailed understanding of the factors that will literally underlie any Alaska gas line project," Parnell said. "And he has significant private sector experience evaluating oil and gas prospects and leading exploration efforts from the Beaufort Sea to Cook Inlet and in every sedimentary basin in between."

Swenson led a staff of more than 50 state employees and contractors in assessing Alaska's mineral and energy resources as the director of the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. He will now be responsible for evaluating the prospects for a stand-alone natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Fairbanks and Southcentral Alaska.

He is taking over the job vacated by Harry Noah, who said he is leaving because the state has no cohesive gas line policy.

Noah, who was appointed by then-Gov. Sarah Palin, testified at a hearing of the House Resources Committee Dec. 15 that the state is working in too many areas.

"We are not together at all," he told lawmakers. "We are pulling this way, and we're pulling that way."

The governor's office said in a release that Swenson's current work in the government includes overseeing a five-year Delta Junction-Canada pipeline corridor study; directing crews in the assessments of energy resources for the North Slope, Brooks Range, Interior, Cook Inlet, Alaska Peninsula, Gulf of Alaska and offshore areas; conducting statewide studies of Alaska's mineral resources; and analyzing geologic hazards to state residents and infrastructure.

His 12 years in the private sector included work as project team leader for Arco's "Cosmopolitan" program of exploration in the environmentally sensitive south Kenai Peninsula region.

Swenson also has experience managing all aspects of helicopter-supported geologic explorations in remote areas.