|
Navy
proposes use of powerful sonar in Gulf of Alaska
The U.S. Navy is asking for public comment on proposed training
events scheduled for the Gulf of Alaska for
a draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The Navy already conducts exercises in the Gulf, but would like to
increase the number and variety of the training.
Among the Navy's proposals is use of the mid-frequency active
sonar.
The system emits pulses of sound from an underwater transmitter to
help determine the size, distance, and speed of objects.
According to the Navy, it's the only reliable way to track
submarines.
Scientists have asserted that sonar may harm certain marine
mammals under certain conditions, especially beaked whales.
Depending on the conditions they believe that sonar may damage the
ears of the mammals, causing hemorrhaging and/or disorientation.
The Navy has stated that it agrees that the sonar may harm some
marine mammals.
Litigation challenging mid-frequency active sonar training off the
coast of Southern California ended with a November 2008 U.S.
Supreme Court decision.
The U. S. Supreme Court said that the lower court had improperly
favored the possibility of injuring marine animals over the
importance of military readiness.
The Supreme Court ruling allowed the training to continue.
A public meeting with Navy officials is scheduled in Juneau for
Monday, January 11th at the Arts and Cultural Center.
The presentation and comment session begins at 7 p.m.
The deadline for public comment is January 25th.
The draft EIS is available and comments can also be submitted
online at www.GulfofAlaskaNavyEIS.com
----
Hearings are also scheduled in Kodiak this Thursday at the high
school cafeteria; in Anchorage this Friday at the Fairview
Recreation Center; this Saturday in Homer at the elementary school
gymnasium; and Cordova on Tuesday January 12th at the Orca
Adventure Meeting Room.
The presentation and comment sessions begin at 7 p.m.
Interior
chief announces oil, gas leasing reforms
WASHINGTON (AP) — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is announcing
changes he says will bring more scrutiny and greater public
participation in the way oil and gas leases are handled on public
lands.
Salazar says the changes should ensure stricter environmental
standards in oil and gas leasing while bringing more certainty for
energy companies that hope to drill on public lands, mostly in
Western states.
Salazar is a former senator from Colorado. The Democrat criticized
the Bush administration for what he called a "headlong
rush" to lease public lands.
Early last year, Salazar suspended 60 of 77 leases in Utah
approved in the waning days of that administration.
Industry groups have accused Salazar of significantly reducing oil
and gas leases on federal lands. He has disputed that.
---
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the
Senate Energy Committee is on her way to Afghanistan and not
available for comment but Robert Dillon of her office did.
Dillon said the only certainly the changes announced by Salazar
will provide is that more production will be driven overseas.
He called it another step by the administration to decrease
domestic oil and gas production and increase the country's
dependency on foreign nations.
---
Senator Mark Begich issued a statement that said he's concerned
the new procedures will further delay oil and gas development,
especially in his state.
As the new policies are implemented, Begich said he would oppose
them if they result in nothing but further bureaucratic delays in
meeting the nation's energy needs.
Two
lawmakers call for PFD guarantee
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Two Democratic state lawmakers from
Anchorage want to guarantee Permanent Fund dividend checks by
enshrining the benefit in the state constitution.
Sen. Hollis French and Rep. Harry Crawford say without the
constitutional protection, the dividend could be tapped by the
Legislature for state spending.
Mat-Su mayor worried
critical habitat designation for beluga whales could delay
development
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) — Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Talis
Colberg says the pending federal designation of critical habitat
for Cook Inlet's beluga whales could delay development in the
area.
The federal government listed the whales as endangered in 2008,
and last year proposed designating more than 3,000 square miles of
Cook Inlet as critical habitat.
'Frozen Gore'
sculpture in AK fuels warming debate
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Another two-ton ice sculpture of former
Vice President Al Gore is back in front of a Fairbanks liquor
store.
"Frozen Gore" is a dig at Gore's beliefs about climate
change.
The first statue went on display last year. This year's version is
hooked up to the exhaust of a pickup truck to make it appear Gore
is spouting hot air.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the smoke drew laughs from
a crowd Tuesday as a Gore speech on climate change played over a
loudspeaker.
The sculpture was commissioned by two businessmen, Craig Compeau
and Rudy Gavora, who want Gore to discuss global warming in
Fairbanks.
"We don't agree with his theories — we're suspicious of the
financial motivation behind them," Compeau said.
Last year's inaugural Gore ice sculpture got national attention,
including mentions on The Drudge Report, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.
Compeau said his Web site with photos and information about the
sculpture attracted 1.7 million visitors. He also was swamped with
mostly positive e-mails from people who found the sculpture
entertaining.
Climate change scientists say Alaska has warmed by 3 degrees
Fahrenheit during the past 50 years.
The average temperature for 2009 was 27.8 degrees in Fairbanks,
about one degree warmer than normal, said Rick Thoman, a
meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
___
On the Net:
www.frozengore.com
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
UPDATE
- Air emergency cancelled
The latest air emergency for the Mendenhall Valley has been
cancelled.
The air emergency invoked Monday morning by the City and Borough
of Juneau was cancelled this morning.
Bartlett releases statement on Rainforest Recover Center
Bartlett Regional Hospital issued a statement in response to the
testimony to the Assembly Monday night claiming its alcohol
treatment program is overly expensive and poorly run.
Jim Strader, Bartlett's Director of Community Relations, said they
recognize that Rainforest Recovery Center has had its challenges,
none of which have gone unnoticed or unaddressed by hospital
management.
He added that they are working diligently to resolve every issue
as quickly as possible.
Strader said it's not accurate to use a single bill, as was the
case at the Assembly meeting, to portray charges for services.
He explained that there are many variables depending on services
required.
In the hospital's fiscal year 2009, he said the average
inpatient charge was $10,031.
Strader explains that many of their patients pay on a sliding
scale based on their ability to pay and in many cases pay nothing
at all.
Overall, he said their net compensation rate is approximately 25%
or 25 cents on every dollar billed.
In the statement from the hospital, the recent decision to
contract with the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency for
management services was defended.
Strader said that was a step aimed to heighten efforts at making
the service run more effectively for Southeast Alaska
communities.
He says the contract has four pages of very specific performance
expectations that they feel the council is best equipped to
realize.
Strader added that this change was fully vetted through the RRC
Advisory Board and the Hospital Board of Directors with resounding
support from both panels.
The hospital official says they consider the substance abuse
problem in Juneau critical and recognize that it plays a key role
in dealing with the community-wide issue. Strader adds that they
continue to work with all stakeholders in the community to seek
positive solutions.
Winter weather advisory
posted for Juneau
A winter weather advisory is in effect for Juneau from Noon to
midnight today.
Snow developing in the morning possibly mixed with freezing rain
by late afternoon is forecast.
The weather service says to expect an accumulation of 1 to 3
inches.
Up to 2 more inches is expected overnight along with an ice
accumulation of less than one quarter inch.
Alaska
tests nation's emergency alert system
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Radio listeners and TV viewers in
Alaska witnessed the first national emergency exercise of its kind
Wednesday morning, but the test ran into distribution problems
around the state.
Radio, television and some cable providers participated in a live
statewide test of the nation's Emergency Alert System, which
employed a never-used code that would be applied in a national
crisis.
"A national emergency action notification has been issued
for: District of Columbia, DC," ran a red message banner at
the top of the television screen to stations not beset by several
reported glitches.
Filling the rest of the screen was a scene of a snowy, wooded
mountain, superimposed by a large red stop sign and the words,
"Chill! It is just a drill."
The 10 a.m. Alaska Standard Time test will help officials prepare
for a future national exercise not yet scheduled, according to
state and federal officials.
The three-minute airing — activated from Washington, D.C., by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency — was unlike regular
periodic tests aired by broadcasters. It was the first official
activation of the Emergency Action Notification code, which would
give the president access to national airwaves during a real
crisis.
Officials considered the test a success, even though some
broadcasters did not receive the signal in time and others got a
weak connection or only the audio portion of the exercise.
For example, statewide cable provider GCI — with 130,000
subscribers — didn't receive the initial launch signal, although
it did get the disconnect signal, company spokesman David Morris
said.
Participants will spend the next weeks, or even months, working
through the problems, said Bryan Fisher, chief of operations at
the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
He said glitches could be blamed on various factors, such as old
equipment or flaws with programming or audio levels.
Participants, which included the Federal Communications
Commission, said the exercise has been in the planning since
September. The Alaska Broadcasters Association developed public
service announcements on the exercise that began airing Dec. 21,
said the association's executive director, Darlene Simono.
Alaska was chosen for the initial test run for several reasons,
Fisher said. Alaska is well-versed in similar exercises conducted
through the national public warning system to test tsunami
warnings and Amber Alerts within the largest state in the country.
Alaska's extreme isolation also cuts down on the chance of the
test reaching beyond state lines and potentially causing
confusion, Fisher said.
Authorities respond to hikers on Thunder Mountain who were not
in need of help
A couple of disoriented hikers on Thunder Mountain were assisted
Tuesday night.
State Troopers received a report at about 9 p.m. of the two hikers
who appeared to be stranded.
Troopers responded to a Trafalgar Street residence where two head
lamps could be seen in the area near the Steep Creek drainage at
about the 15-hundred foot level.
Several members of Juneau Mountain Rescue also responded to the
scene.
A Trooper dispatch said it appeared the hikers were somewhat
confused about their situation.
The rescue team received a verbal response from the hikers at
about 10:30 that they were okay. They could be observed at that
time slowly working their way towards the top of the mountain.
The dispatch encourages hikers to file a trip plan with either
local law enforcement or a friend or family member.
And when participating in such activities as night climbing that
are visible by the general public, the dispatch recommends that
hikers have a means to communicate with emergency responders in
order to avoid unnecessary search and rescue efforts.
Airman found dead
in Fairbanks identified
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Authorities have released the identity
of an airman assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base who was found
dead in Fairbanks.
Col. Thomas Bergeson says Fairbanks police discovered Tech Sgt.
Ernest Spurlock in his vehicle in a parking lot on Monday night.
Spurlock was unresponsive from an apparent gunshot wound.
He was with the 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is working with
local police to investigate the death.
Anchorage bookkeeper admits guilt
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Court documents show an Anchorage
bookkeeper has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of theft
from a health care benefit program.
Cheri Ray is accused of embezzling $75,000 from Alaska Kidney
Consultants between March 2003 and August 2006.
Family burned out of Wrangell home
A home in Wrangell was destroyed by fire Monday night.
That according to Ramona Wigg of Juneau who tells us its the home
of her sister Alora Wigg was a total loss.
No one was injured. They did lose their dog in the fire.
The home was not insured.
Her sister's possessions and all the possessions of her son Troy
and family friend were lost in the fire.
Ramona says her sister was stricken with cancer. The disease is in
remission, but she hasn't been able to work.
Donations can be made to the Alora Wigg Fire Account through Wells
Fargo Bank. The account number is 79133551826.
Question can be directed to Ramona Wigg at monashines@gmail.com
Driver
sustains minor injuries in train collision
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage police say a driver escaped
with only minor injuries after his car was struck by a train.
Police say 89-year-old Sven Persson of Anchorage was taken to a
hospital after Tuesday's collision at Lois Drive and Tudor Road.
Police say the train was northbound when it hit Persson's car,
which has gone under the lowered crossing barrier. The car was
struck on the left front quarter panel and spun clockwise, away
from the tracks.
Police and personnel from the Alaska Railroad continue to
investigate.
Police remind drivers that extra time is needed to stop in icy
road conditions.
Alaska
volcano back at 'normal' status
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Scientists say Alaska's Mount Redoubt
volcano has calmed down to a "normal" alert level after
days of few seismic events at the Cook Inlet peak about 105 miles
southwest of Anchorage.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory cited the low number of quakes and
no signs of unrest in Tuesday's decision to reduce the aviation
alert level at the 10,200-foot volcano from yellow to green.
A swarm of small, shallow earthquakes began occurring Dec. 27,
prompting the observatory to increase the alert level.
The quakes have now subsided.
Redoubt went through an eruptive period that included major
explosions last spring, including one that dusted Anchorage with
ash fall.
That forced the Cook Inlet Pipeline Co. to remove millions of
gallons of oil stored at the Drift River Terminal 22 miles away.
Hundreds of airline flights also had to be canceled because of ash
clouds.
Liberty to mark anniversary with open house
The Juneau based Coast Guard Cutter Liberty will conduct an open
house at Station Juneau downtown Thursday.
It's to mark 20 years of service which occurred on December 18th.
The Liberty was delivering food, blankets and toys to Southeast
villages prior to Christmas when its 20th anniversary occurred so
its being marked now with Thursday's open house.
Lieutenant Andrea Manuel says the open house is scheduled from 3
to 7 p.m.
She says the tours will be available every half hour from Station
Juneau beginning at 3:30 and continuing to 7 p.m.
Traffic up in December for Alaska Air
SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines reports it carried nearly 9
percent more passengers last month compared with December of 2008.
But that was largely due to the winter storms in the Pacific
Northwest that impacted travel in the last two weeks of '08.
The airline also reports that 84 percent of its flights arrived on
time in December, compared with 58 percent a year earlier.
Lawsuit filed over Seward coal dust problem
MARY PEMBERTON - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A lawsuit has been filed in federal
court over the problem of coal dust dirtying the scenic town of
Seward.
Residents have complained for years that coal stockpiled near the
harbor for delivery to ships for export to Asia and Chile is
polluting their town — a popular destination for summer
tourists.
Lawyer Austin Williams with Trustees for Alaska says residents
report that when the wind blows plumes of coal dust fly from the
coal piles. He says when the coal is loaded by conveyor belt onto
the ships chunks fall into Resurrection Bay.
The lawsuit alleges that the Alaska Railroad and Aurora Energy
Services are violating the federal Clean Water Act, and asks the
court to force the companies to stop polluting or get a permit.
Juneau student one of two Alaskans selected for U. S. Senate
Youth Program
The student body president at Juneau Douglas High School is one of
two high school students selected by Alaska's U. S. Senators as
delegates to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program.
Haley Nelson and Anum Qadir of Anchorage were chosen by Senators
Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich from hundreds of applicants.
Both will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship from the
Hearst Foundation that encourages coursework in government,
history and public affairs.
While in Washington from March 6 to the 13, the student delegates
will attend meetings and briefings with Senate leadership, other
Senators and Congressional staff, the President, a Justice of the
Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the
United States, and top members of the national media.
Anchorage teachers honored with Presidential award
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska teachers Cheryl Silcox and Laura
Ann Hulsebus are in Washington, D.C., today to receive the
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science
Teaching.
Silcox was honored for teaching while she was in White Mountain.
She now teaches at Winterberry Charter School in Anchorage.
Hulsebus teaches at Alpenglow Elementary in Eagle River.
Internet service restored to Sitka
ACS has restored DSL Internet service to Sitka.
The service was restored at 1 p.m. Tuesday after initially
going out at 9:12 a.m.
The communications company estimates that up to 1,000 business and
residential customers in and around Sitka may have been affected.
The outage was caused by a failed piece of equipment that acts as
a gateway to the Internet, according to an ACS release.
Proposal in Anchorage calls for checking everyone's ID when
purchasing booze
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Should all liquor stores in Anchorage
check IDs for every customer — not just those who may be too
young?
That's the question Assembly members are considering as a way to
screen out people restricted from drinking.
The assembly's public safety committee is holding a town hall
meeting tomorrow night to listen to comments from the public.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Mat-Su to charge for off-road rescues
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Matanuska-Susitna Borough officials are
working on a plan to charge those who need to be rescued from the
wilderness.
Clint Vardeman, the deputy director of Emergency Services, says it
costs a lot of money to conduct off-road rescue operations and
taxpayers need to be protected.
Starting in spring, the borough plans to charge for the use of its
ATVs, airboats or snowmachines during rescue missions. The price
starts at $300 for the first hour and $150 for each additional 30
minutes.
The volunteer Alaska Mountain Rescue Group opposes the plan,
saying people in trouble will hesitate to call for help.
(KTUU-TV)
Olympic athletes need flu shots, too
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — With the flu season's peak coming up in
February and March, public health officials are urging people to
get vaccinated.
A swine flu vaccine clinic was held Tuesday at the U.S. Cross
Country Championships in Anchorage, allowing racers, coaches and
spectators to get their shots. Olympic biathlete Rachel Steer
helped promote the clinic, getting her shot while wearing skis.
Before December only a limited group could receive the H1N1
vaccine.
Now there are over 300,000 doses available in Alaska, open to
everyone.
(KTUU-TV)
Johnson
hangs up his glove
Randy Johnson has announced his retirement after 22 major league
seasons, five Cy Young Awards and two no-hitters, including a
perfect game.
The 46-year-old Johnson pitched 17 starts and five relief
appearances for San Francisco last season.
He played with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in the 1980s and spent
many years in the majors playing in Seattle for the Mariners.
|
