After nearly 15 years of being stymied by a combination of liberal politics and eco-extremists, a Cook Inlet producer received a permit for geological studies, hopeful of identifying potential oil and gas reserves in its lease areas. On Wednesday, August 14th, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved a permit from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC to conduct a geophysical survey in the federal waters of lower Cook Inlet. The survey of nearly 600 square acres in waters between Homer and the Iniskin Peninsula will identify potential oil and gas resources. BOEM laid out the conditions for vessels, security perimeters and monitoring…