HAINES–The Haines Planning Commission will host two town meetings to invite public comment on the draft Comprehensive Plan this week. The comprehensive plan is the “roadmap” for future borough decisions and is valid through 2025, and your public comment on this document is important in the implementation process.
The first meeting, in Haines, will be Wednesday May 16 from 6-8 p.m. in the Haines High School Commons.
The second meeting will be at the Mosquito Lake School, May 17, from 6-8 p.m.
The draft Comprehensive plan can be downloaded by going here. (Warning: 292 pages)
AMHS Press Release
JUNEAU–The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) announced today that the M/V Matanuska continues to sail its scheduled service after the May 7 allision with the Ocean Beauty Seafoods dock in Petersburg, Alaska.
“We are particularly thankful that there were no injuries resulting from the accident,” said Michael Neussl, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Deputy Commissioner for Marine Operations. Read more->
Food for thought: A provocative new video from the folks over at Americans for Limited Government promoting a new project focused on economic liberty and free market policies. Watch:
By Mark Thiessen | AP
PETERSBURG — One of Alaska’s largest state ferries hit a seafood processing plant’s dock head-on Monday, causing significant damage, officials said.
The 408-foot Matanuska ferry hit the dock belonging to Ocean Beauty, said Jeremy Woodrow, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Transportation.
by Thomas Sowell | TOWNHALL
The “Occupy” movement, which the Obama administration and much of the media have embraced, has implications that reach far beyond the passing sensation it has created.
The unwillingness of authorities to put a stop to their organized disruptions of other people’s lives, their trespassing, vandalism and violence is a de facto suspension, if not repeal, of the 14th Amendment’s requirement that the government provide “equal protection of the laws” to all its citizens.
by Becky Bohrer | ADN
JUNEAU — A U.S. Postal Service spokesman says a moratorium on closing postal facilities is still scheduled to end May 15, despite calls from senators to extend it.
by Andrew Halcro
JUNEAU–As the Alaska State Legislature begins a special session today on oil tax reform, things are a little chilly in the Capitol. Between the House, the Governor and the Senate, there are more ill feelings than in all of Bartlett Memorial.
The biggest sticking point of the two year battle over oil tax reform has been the debate over the legacy fields on the North Slope. While the Governor and the House want to include these fields in tax reform, the Senate has balked thus creating a show down.
From Rep. Bill Thomas:
HAINES–The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation will be hosting a public workshop on April 17, 2012 at the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The purpose of the workshop is to gather public input on Chilkoot River corridor management recommendations and improvements planned for the area. There will be representatives from various agencies available at the workshop to answer questions and discuss corridor concerns.
By Jill Burke | ALASKA DISPATCH
Alaska’s heavy snow pack, coupled with cooler-than-average temperatures, is a recipe for flooding this year. Hydrologists with the National Weather Service delivered the news during a roundtable discussion on the issue Thursday morning in Anchorage with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
“This winter has been very much a see-saw. November was cold, December was warm. January was cold, February was warm. March was cold, and now the question is: ‘What’s April going to be?’,” said Scott Lindsey, a hydrologist with the weather service’s river watch program in Anchorage.
by Dermot Cole | FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
FAIRBANKS — The Wall Street Journal put a overoptimistic spin on the Point Thomson announcement Friday by Gov. Sean Parnell and the letter from three oil companies, claiming it “clears the way” for a natural gas pipeline.
However, the letter about natural gas signed by the chief executives of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and BP makes no commitments.
By Corey Allen-Young | KTVA.com
Qualifying individuals who haven’t applied yet for their slice of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend are in danger of missing out.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, and the PFD office is closed on the weekends.
That makes Friday do-or-die time if you want to file in person.
by Jeff Richardson | FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS MINER
FAIRBANKS—A new survey on Alaska tourism has some in the industry worried. The survey shows that the once-common sight of RVs driving Alaska’s roads and highway is becoming more of a rarity. Read more->
HAINES: On 3/19/2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C., issued a preliminary permit to Goat Lake Hydro (AP&T) to complete a feasibility study of their proposed Connelly Lake Hydro project. Additionally, the permit gives Goat Lake Hydro a priority over other companies to develop this particular resource.
The permit is not a license to construct a hydro project, but a preliminary step in the process that allows in-depth studies and planning to proceed, and a significant step toward adequate hydropower for northern Lynn Canal.
JUNEAU–The proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for the fall, winter, and spring 2012-13 seasons has been placed on the AMHS website for public review. These documents can be accessed through a link on the homepage at FerryAlaska.com or directly through the following address:
Press release:
SITKA–Alaskan Dream Cruises, one of the newest small-ship cruise lines sailing in Southeast Alaska, is announcing three new itineraries, additional ports of call and ship renovations.
Alaskan Dream Cruises is owned and operated by an Alaska Native family in Sitka. The company will operate its second season from May through September.
The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012: an eight-day trip that focuses on many less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two more comprehensive 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage.
The three itineraries also include new ports of call for the cruise line: Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus. Read more->
Public Information Release
HAINES–A Resolution to declare a disaster and requesting state assistance was adopted in a special meeting of the Haines Borough Assembly today at 1:15 pm. The situation was elevated to this point when the main sewer line from 125 homes on the hillside of Highland Estates and Skyline Drive was broken by the slide activity.
Crews from Southeast Road Builders Inc. and the Borough Water & Sewer Department started emergency repairs to this line before light this morning. Work is ongoing as of this report (3:00pm Friday afternoon) PSA’s asking residence above this area to restrict their use of water going into the sewer until crews finish emergency repairs today. [Borough officials] will place an announcement on KHNS when the work is completed and normal usage can resume. Crews will continue working until repairs are finished today. Thank you for your patience.
No update is scheduled for the week‐end unless there are major changes to report.
PUBLIC NOTICE
HAINES BOROUGH ASSEMBLY SPECIAL MEETING NOTIFICATION
Location: Borough Assembly Chambers, February 3, 2012 at 1:15 pm
PURPOSE: Consider Resolution 12-02-330 Declaring a disaster and requesting state assistance.
According to the agenda, “The slump in the Oceanview Drive/Lutak Road area continues to move and has breached the sewer line. It is anticipated that the area will continue to move and destroy public facilities. The manager has deemed it necessary to declare a disaster and request state assistance at this time.”
The Haines Alaska News will post more information as it becomes available; readers can also check the Haines Borough Website for updates.
Public Information Release
HAINES–6 PM Revision–Melting snow revealed an old manhole, not showing on any as builts, or known by local maintenance officials, during dye testing of the sewer line running through the middle of the slide area late this afternoon. This manhole is being compromised by the ground shifting close to a crack near the top of the slide area. Plans are being put together this evening to remove that manhole and to re‐connect the sewer line. This damage appears to be from earlier shifting in this location but has been buried under the snow, keeping it from detection.
Activity in the active area of the slope movement appeared to calmed down today with very little new visual movement detected.
The command center has been receiving very detailed information from several State and Federal offices in an effort to help in our planning efforts. Some of it is so detailed that we have to filter through the information to determine what is relevant to our event. If you have questions about any information you may be hearing rumors about, please contact the command center at 766‐2258.
Warmer weather will still be with us for a few more days, which is helping melt the snow, but also brings added concern to the area that is already over saturated.
Next scheduled update will be 3 PM Friday afternoon.
Command Center – 766‐2258 Roc Ahrens ~ Emergency Coordinator
DAILY Update Recording – 766‐22567
There was a sudden increase of movement in the slide area beginning around 7:30 pm which aroused residents nearby. Upon investigation, the shifting that had occurred at the large cracks at the top of the slide in Lutak Road, was very visible. There was an approximate horizontal shift of 8 inches, and a vertical drop of near 4 inches. Residents in the immediate area were notified of the increased activity, as well as appropriate State agencies.
The State DOT survey crew finished setting additional control points surrounding the whole area, and plan to be back in two weeks to check for any differences.
Haines DOT/PF crews ground the remaining hump in the north bound lane today with Southeast Road Builders re‐claimer. Borough Maintenance crews filled the cracks in Lutak road for the State who were busy grinding the pavement of the bump and the bottom of the active area.
Next scheduled update will be 3 PM Thursday afternoon.
By Brian Edwards | ACCUWEATHER
Alaskans have been experiencing the most brutal winter conditions of anybody in the United States this season. Thanks to cold being bottled up across the Northwest Territories and Alaska, the season has been chock full of snow, frigid temperatures, and plenty of ice fog to go around.
Alex DeMarban | ALASKA DISPATCH
Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens said Thursday that the Senate will soon hold a hearing on its own oil-tax reform bill, essentially declaring dead House Bill 110, legislation passed last year by the state House and fervently backed by Gov. Sean Parnell.
The Heritage Foundation
President Obama’s State of the Union address laid out his long-term economic recovery plans, which he claims will “work for everyone, not just a wealthy few.” That is, unless it is the pipeline construction business. President Obama’s politically intoned decision to reject TransCanada’s permit application to construct a 1,700-mile pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to Texas refineries last week sent a clear message that special-interest demands are more important than more energy and much-needed job creation.
By Becky Bohrer | AP
JUNEAU–Some Alaska lawmakers, hoping to make a point about federal encroachment on state rights, are urging the federal government take over New York City’s Central Park and designate it as a wilderness area.
Image is from the NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows the solar flare that erupted Sunday evening
National Weather Service
The largest Solar Radiation Storm since October 2003 is occurring. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is reporting that a G1 Geomagnetic Storm and a S3 Solar Radiation Storm are in progress.
Impacts for this event include:
Power Systems: Weak power fluctuations can occur
Spacecraft Operations: Minor impact on satellite operations
By Stephanie Joyce | KUCB
Rapidly advancing sea ice has left crabbers scrambling to get their gear out of the water or stuck in port, waiting for better weather.
Fish and Game area management biologist Heather Fitch says there are more than 8000 snow crab pots out on the fishing ground right now. They cost at least a thousand dollars each, so that’s more than $8 million worth of gear. And Fitch says almost all of the pots are north of 56.5 degrees. The ice was already at that latitude east of the Pribilof islands today and it’s forecast to move in quickly to the west.
Kathleen Cole is an ice forecaster for the National Weather Service in Anchorage. She says that’s unusual.
The Haines Alaska News is a public information service of the Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc., a grassroots movement organized to advocate for small business and a free market economy in Alaska.
The AAFC is organized under section 501(C)(4) of the U.S. Tax Code; contributions are not tax deductible.
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by Andrew Halcro
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