Anchorage – Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) applauds the new Statement of Cooperation on the Protection of Transboundary Waters between the State of Alaska and British Columbia. The statement was signed today by Alaska Lt. Governor Byron Mallott, the British Columbia Minister of Energy and Mines, and the British Columbia Minister of Environment.
Governor should act, or EPA will have to
This week, Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment.
Over the next few newsletters, I’ll recap this past session in greater detail. In this issue, I’ll address water-related issues like ocean acidification, tsunami debris, coastal management and boating safety.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I appreciate hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
“Tsunami debris threatens Alaskan coastal resources, communities and economies”
JUNEAU – Today, eight members of the Alaska House Democratic Caucus called on the federal government to create an aggressive plan to protect Alaska’s coastline from the threat posed by debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan.
“This debris could cause serious ecological, health and safety concerns for our coastal communities, not to mention significant economic impacts that could ripple throughout the state,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau). “We know it’s coming—the first of it is already here. We need federal resources to get an idea of what we’re up against so we can develop the best way to deal with these waves of debris that could keep coming for months or more.”
This week, the Legislature has been working on the final two items on the call for the special session – the capital budget and the extension of the Alaska Coastal Management Program. It looks like we’ll be done with special session tomorrow evening.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
The last day of session is supposed to be Sunday April 17. However, there’s been some speculation that we won’t be able to finish in time. That all depends on whether or not the House and the Senate can come to an agreement about the capital budget and some other key items. At the end of session, a few key things need to fall into place as the final pieces of the puzzle. This year, the end game is centering around the operating and capital budgets, oil and gas taxes, coastal zone management, performance scholarships and education funding.
