Based on an email from Nancy Hillstrand re. an appeal on hatchery regs that was deigned by ADF&G. ADF&G made a decision on hatchery regs. Nancy has hired an attorney to help with the appeal and is waiting to hear from him. Not sure yet when the deadline is for the appeal. Hal will follow up and plans to draft something.

Hal sent a page-long draft responds to Kayla in response to an email she sent out a couple of weeks ago. Were supposed to have a meeting in September, but that was postponed. Hope to hear from Laurie on any updates. In the interim, would like to talk to Kayla about that environmental working group. Some concern that the EA is sufficient, seems like the studies they’ve done are extremely limited. No discussion about climate change and how that relates to the harbor. Need more than an EA, needs to include cumulative impacts including climate change. The date for public comment has been pushed back, but not aware of a new deadline for those comments. 

Originally prohibited in the Critical Habitat Area. The Dunlevy administration changed that a couple of years ago, but the pushback by the public (3 plaintive, with a ruling from the lower courts banned them. This has been overturned by the Alaska State Supreme Court, allowing jet skis in the CHA. Alaska has a loser-pays rule, which means the plaintiffs are probably on the hook to pay for attorney fees.

Due Thursday, focused on Gov Dunleavey’s administrative order regarding state water quality standards, likely in an effort to gut them. Due maybe on Thursday. Administrative order 360 was the same order used to gut the jet ski ban, so it set a presidency that allows the State to “streamline” environmental analysis in favor of industry. 

The state Department of Natural Resources sent out multiple proposed scoping changes yesterday.

Mining and Water, temporary water rights, so probably looking to gut water permitting and requirements for temporary water uses. There are multiple of these coming out, maybe 8, from different agencies that came out yesterday from Land and water, lands and mining regulations, limit the right to appeal. Hal’s trying to raise the red flag. Not sure anyone else is paying attention. Deadline to comment is Oct 31. We recommend that they make no changes, because if they make changes, we know what they’re going to be. 

With help from Design Strategist Karen Hodo, After a clarifying conversation, Hal has had several listed issues addressed, including the Woodard Creek and Peatlands sections.