Past News Items
Here are some news items you may have missed.
2012 Legislative Priorities
Energy Efficiency, Sensible Transportation Investment, and Toxic Exposure Phase-Out selected as the top 3 legislative priorities for the 2012 session by the Alaska Conservation Alliance. The Northern Alaska Environmental Center will be working to advocate for these statewide priorities throughout Interior and Arctic Alaska. Click to learn more!
Citizens Ballot Initiaitive to Restore Coastal Zone Management
NAEC is supporting a citizen's initiative to restore Alaska's coastal management program, which expired this spring after several decades of successful operation.
CCP Success- Nearly 1 Million People Comment for Arctic Refuge Wilderness!
The Northern Center was a major player in empowering nearly 1 million public comments for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in recent comment period.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Plan Released for Comment! Fish & Wildlife Service considers Wilderness for Coastal Plain
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released its draft Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) on August 15, 2011. The plan made an important decision to formally consider Wilderness for the crucial Coastal Plain area – the biological heart of our nation’s wilderness icon -- presenting a historic opportunity to protect the Arctic Refuge for future generations. The public comment period has begun, and the first public meeting will be held August 24 in Fairbanks, with important hearings later on.
Wal-Mart bypasses federal regulators to ban controversial flame retardant.
In perhaps the boldest example yet of "retail regulation," Wal-Mart is stepping ahead of federal regulators and using its muscle as the world's largest retailer to move away from PBDEs, a class of chemicals researchers say endangers human health and the environment. Washington Post [Registration Required] http://wapo.st/dTRs07
Victory for Alaskans! Judge rules Best Interest Finding for Beaufort Sea Leasing is Unconstitutional
The public will have the opportunity to participate in Alaska Department of Natural Resource (ADNR) decisions about whether other uses, such as subsistence hunting and fishing, and the public’s resources are jeopardized at each phase of oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea in a case brought by NAEC and other groups...
Donlin Creek Working Group website online!
The Northern Center has recently completed a comprehensive website dealing with the proposed Donlin Creek Mine. Have a look here: https://sites.google.com/site/donlincreekworkinggroup/home
Alaska Coastal Management Legislative Priority Gets Headlines
Alaska coastal communities push for local control, front page article from the Alaska Dispatch!
Arctic Refuge Wilderness Bill Re-Introduced
Rep. Edward Markey on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 reintroduced a bill to designate the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area.
Feds Rush Incomplete Environmental Review of Oil and Gas Drilling in Arctic Ocean
Alaska Office Fails to Rely on Sound Science for New Assessment done in Wake of BP’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster. Today, the Alaska office of the federal offshore agency (BOEMRE) released a new draft environmental analysis that says drilling for oil in the Chukchi is justified at any cost. This took place the same day as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced plans to lift the moratorium on deepwater Gulf of Mexico offshore oil drilling.
Hot Race Celebrates 50th Anniversary Arctic Refuge
Nearly 200 runners at the Annual Run for the Refuge raced 5 or 10k to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in record high 91°F -- the warmest for late August in 100 years.
Ginny Hill Wood Recieves Fish & Wildlife Service Award for Alaska Conservation
Virginia "Ginny" Hill Wood, 93, recieved a national award for her role in Alaska conservation here in Fairbanks this week that recognized her critical role in many conservation issues starting with the establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Fish & Wildlife Service's Citizen's Award to Wood is a fitting tribute to her visionary achievement this year as we celebrate the Arctic Refuge 50th anniversary.
Sec. Salazar urged to reconsider Shell Oil’s exploratory drilling in Arctic Ocean planned to start in less than 60 days
In light of the ongoing Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska Native communities and conservation groups sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today urging him to reconsider his approval of exploratory drilling by Shell Oil due to begin in Alaska’s Arctic Ocean in less than 60 days. The groups point to new information from the Gulf spill that requires the Secretary to reconsider his decision to approve Shell’s Arctic Ocean drilling.
SB 195 Passes the Alaska State Legislature
The Alaska legislature has voted to make permanent a recreation designation for a swath of land in the Goldstream Valley.
Historic Opportunity for Stronger Protections in New Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Planning Process
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service began its update of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 22-year old Comprehensive Conservation Plan to guide long-term stewardship of this conservation area including wilderness and wild and scenic river reviews. On this 50th anniversary of America’s wilderness refuge we have a great opportunity to promote stronger protection for future generations.
EPA Rescinds Key Red Dog Mine Permit Limits
The EPA recently withdrew Red Dog Mine's discharge permit limits challenged by the NAEC and Native villages that would have allowed the mine to discharge increased levels of pollutants into Alaska's waters.
Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: Taking a Stand for Living Marine Resources
NAEC strives to address concerns at the earliest possible time such as the adequacy of scientific baseline information in the rapidly changing ecosystem of Arctic seas caused by sea ice loss or failure to meet the standards for clean air, clean water, and public involvement and review. We were disappointed that significant issues were not addressed in recent goverment decisions to approve offshore lease sales and drilling, and therefore found it necessary to take legal action to ensure that our nation’s benchmark environmental laws are upheld so that fragile ecosystems receive sufficient protection.
State Energy Policy Bill Passes House
On March 17, 2010, the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 306, the first step to solving Alaska’s long-term energy needs.
- Past News Items
- Here are some news items you may have missed.
