Smoke from burning debris from hazard fuel reduction treatment (fire protection) around structures, brushing along the park road, and maintenance projects in the park may be seen up through May 2012. Photo by D Jensen

Hazard fuel reduction treatment (fire protection) around structures, brushing along the park road, and maintenance projects in the park are being burned and smoke may be visible from the George Parks Highway area near Denali National Park in Alaska from now through May, the Park Service reports.  Since February 18, the Fire Management staff at Denali National Park and Preserve has been burning piles of tree and brush debris at locations near the Denali Park Road and in the backcountry. This routine will last till May 31, 2012 and is mainly done to get rid of the debris from hazard fuel reduction treatment (fire protection) around structures, brushing along the park road, and maintenance projects in the park.

The department has provided the specifics of the chosen burning sites – Admin Road, Toklat Road Camp, Parker Cabin, and Lower Windy Creek Patrol Cabin. Admin Road is located ¼ mile east of the McKinley Park landing strip (Mile 1 on the park road),approximately ½ mile northwest of the park road entrance while the Toklat Road Camp is at Mile 53 on the park road, on the Toklat River approximately ½ mile north of the road.  The Lower Windy Creek Patrol Cabin is approximately 2.5 miles north of the Cantwell Airport, west of the Jack River and the Denali Park boundary. Parker Cabin, on Moose Creek, is approximately 7.5 miles east of Kantishna and 5 miles north of the park road.

Though smoke may be visible near the areas of debris piles, the Fire Management staff assures Alaskans that the areas are well-monitored and safety measures are constantly exercised. Each pile being burned usually lasts 3-4 days. For more information, NPS Fire Management hotline is open from 9AM to 4PM everyday and you can call them at (907) 683-9532. Visit their official site at www.nps.gov/dena.

Photo Credit

Deliberations on over one-hundred proposals submitted by the general public, local fish and game advisory committees, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at a Board of Game meeting March 2nd through the 11th of 2012. The deliberations will begin following public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting during the week. Proposals are regarding hunting and trapping regulations in the Interior regions as well as other topics. The meeting will be held in Fairbanks at the Wedgewood Resort.

“Proposals have been submitted by the Department of Fish and Game, local fish and game advisory committees, and the general public seeking adjustments to hunting and trapping regulations in the Interior region (Game Management Units [GMU] 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C. Issues to be addressed by the board include hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, methods and means, salvage requirements, intensive management, and restricted areas,” says the public notice for the event.

Oral public testimony is to be heard by the Board beginning Friday, March 2, following their department reports. Public testimony will continue until everyone who has signed up has been given the opportunity to be heard. Deliberations on the proposals will begin following public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting location before Saturday, March 3, at 1:00 pm.

Written comments will be accepted on specific proposals up until the proposal is deliberated. Written comments up to 10 pages in length may be faxed to (907) 465-6094. For more detailed information on proposals and the board meeting, the public is encouraged to visit the website at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo.

Photo Credit

Meet the Author: Diane Jensen

• Mail
|
• Web
|
• More Posts (225)

Photo is of the Port of Anchorage, with rail yard. Project Management for the ARRC Port MacKenzie rail extension hits a bump in the new (rail) road extension with protests filed in court this week. Photo by Diane Neill Jensen

The Sierra Club and others have now filed suit in the Ninth Circuit on the grounds that U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board violated NEPA and the federal Administrative Procedure Act regarding the Port MacKenzie rail line extension.  A motion to intervene in that suit was filed by Alaska Attorney General (AG) Michael Geraghty. The state’s transportation system would be improved upon by allowing freight to be transported to and from the Interior and Port MacKenzie via the rail system, says the AG’s office.

“Not only does the State of Alaska have a direct financial stake in the project, but we need to protect our ability to responsibly develop Alaska’s infrastructure and natural resources,” Attorney General Michael Geraghty said.

Geraghty’s main goal is to ensure that the boards’ decisions are in accordance to the State Law and will protect the state’s best interests. He believes that the reversal of the board’s decision would result in unnecessary delays and increased costs, which is not in the best interest of Alaska or its citizens.

The authorization of the construction and operation of a 35-mile railroad connecting Port MacKenzie and the Alaska Railroad Corporation’s (ARRC) main line north of Willow has already been granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board on Nov. 11, 2011. The board had already concluded that the environmental analysis completed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was sufficient and that ARRC may construct the preferred alternative outlined in the environmental document.

Photo Credit

“I appreciate Interior’s final approval of Shell’s contingency plan for the Chukchi,” Murkowski said. “Today’s decision confirms what we’ve known for some time – that Shell has put together a robust and comprehensive spill prevention and response plan that offers the highest level of environmental protection. This represents great news for Alaska and the entire country,” Murkowski said. “I cannot overstate the opportunity that Arctic exploration offers in terms of jobs and energy security,” added Murkowski.

She believes that this approval marks a significant event not just for Shell but also for Alaska in terms of advancing exploration programs in Alaska’s arctic waters. Shell, which spent $2.1 billion on leases in the Chukchi Sea in 2008, has applied to drill exploratory wells in the Chukchi this summer. As of current, Shell is still waiting for the finalization of permits for the Chukchi plan from agencies such as the Interior, the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As the ranking member of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski has constantly showed personal enthusiasm on potential investment plans on Alaska’s abundant oil resources.

“Alaska’s offshore resources represent one of our greatest opportunities to get America’s economy moving again,” Murkowski said. “As the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard has testified, the homework is done and we are ready and waiting to move forward with safe and responsible exploration of our huge energy resources.”

PHOTO CREDIT

Meet the Author: R Gene Jensen

• Mail
|
• Web
|
• More Posts (18)