Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats is sponsoring the 6th Annual Winter Family Fun Day at Reflections Lake on Saturday, February 4th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Come enjoy winter at scenic and accessible Reflections Lake! Cross-country ski, snowshoe, ice skate or walk the loop around the lake. Stay warm with campfires, hot beverages and tasty treats as you soak in the beauty of the picturesque spot. Learn how to use the equipment properly, as well as avalanche safety and awareness. Join us for this National Winter Trails Day event and the opportunity to try healthy winter sports.
For a copy of the event flyer Click Here
For more information contact Alaskans For Palmer Hay Flats
Coal Impacts on Human Health- Free Teleconference- Wednesday, February 15th 9-10 AM (Alaska Time)
Jan 31
Please join Alaska Community Action on Toxics for a discussion with Alan H. Lockwood, MD on the growing body of medical evidence linking coal development to human health risks.
At every stage – from mining,transportation, storage, combustion, and disposal of post-combustion wastes – coal development threatens human and environmental health. Pollutants from coal damage all major organ systems in the human body and contribute to four of the five leading causes of death in the United States.
Dr. Lockwood, Professor of Neurology at the University of Buffalo, is a member of Physicians for Social Responsiblity and is principal author of the PSR medical report “Coal’s Assault on Human Health” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system.
To join this free call and receive the dial-up instructions, please RSVP to Alaska Community Action on Toxics at heather@akaction.org or (907) 222-7714.
Hello community members, as you are aware there are several important topics that will be considered and voted on at tonight’s(January 17th) regular MSB Assembly meeting. Perhaps most concerning are proposed changes to the existing ethics code and changes to the guidelines to public participation that will affect all future Assembly meetings. As you guess both of these topics, depending on the outcome, the results will have far reaching effects on the public’s future ability to participate in Assembly meetings,hold our ELECTED OFFICIALS accountable, maintain a fair and transparent public process and ensure that the voice of the public is adequately considered by the mayor and the Assembly.
We feel compelled to remind the Mayor and the sitting Assembly members that they are public servants, elected by the public to serve the public interest. Furthermore, public speech is not a privilege it is a right that is enshrined in First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The changes on public participation being proposed by the Assembly will greatly restrict this right and stifle the public’s ability to have a voice in government decision making by our ELECTED OFFICIALS.
Public Participation Changes: Ordinance 12-002— would set a maximum time limit of 60 minutes for public participation. With a three-minute limit per person already in place, this would restrict initial testimony to the first few dozen people heard. We have seen first hand what this looks like from the Mayor’s coal resolution meeting at the Depot.
Below is an article in the frontiersman written by Assembly member Warren Keogh which highlights what the ramifications could be if it passes.
Ethics Issue- The mayor has been working hard over the past year to dismantle the current Ethics code. First he tried to eliminate the independent ethics board all together and then after much back settled for suggested changes to the current code. One has to ask, what is the Assembly so afraid of and why is is necessary to weaken the code. We are well aware that the Assembly is rife with conflicts of interest when it comes to a variety of issues. Could this be the driver for the changes?
Below is a post from our website highlighting the ethics issue.
Note: Please consider contacting Assembly members and the mayor directly to voice your concerns. If you can, please show up to testify in person at tonight’s meeting. If you are not able to be there please consider sending them an email.
For a list of Assembly contacts click the link below:
http://foms.net/borough-information/borough-contacts
Thank you for participating in our democracy!
VCRS Earns Prestigious Award – First LEED Gold industrial building in Alaska in Mat-Su
Special congratulations to our friends at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) in Palmer for their recent award of the first LEED Gold Certified Industrial building in Alaska. The one year-old community-recycling center is the first industrial facility in Alaska to be LEED certified at the Gold level. LEED Is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a third-party certification program and a nationally accepted benchmark.
Recently, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss was on site to accept a glass plaque for the achievement from VCRS staff and Friends of Mat-Su board member Mark Masteller who is the former chair of the MSB planning Commission and who currently serves as the Alaska Director for the Cascadia Green Building Council. We would like to extend our warm congratulations to the staff at VCRS and the Mat-Su borough for their leadership and innovative approach to designing a building that is cutting edge for Alaska.
To read the full press release on the award from the Mat-Su borough click here
Reprinted from Frontiersman Website:
Legge, Chuck, The World According to Chuck, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, website, Friday, January 13, 2012, Url: http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/cartoons/the-world-according-to-chuck/image_bc7b655a-3e5f-11e1-bb7e-0019bb2963f4.html
There are several important topics up for consideration at the next regular Mat-Su Borough (MSB) Assembly Meeting. Some of these include, revisions to the existing ethics code, changes to public participation and funding decisions that will guide the borough’s upcoming budget process. For a full version of the Assembly packet click here to review pending legislation and
other agenda items up for consideration at the January 17th meeting. The link provided includes the full Assembly packet, or you can view the packet by individual sections in the E-Packet sections listed.
For additional information, please contact the Office of the Borough Clerk at:
745-9683, (MSB Clerk’s main phone)
Ethics Issue Defined
As you will recall ,a while back the Mat-Su Borough Mayor was working hard to eliminate the existing ethics board and the borough ethics code all together. Due to fierce pushback from the community the Assembly decided it would be more appropriate for the ethics board to make suggested edits to the Assembly on the existing code. Fast forward to today.
On Jan. 17, the Mat-Su Borough Board of Ethics will present its recommended ethics code revisions to Mat-Su Borough Assembly. It appears that the suggested changes that will be presented are politically motivated and will further weaken the existing code it’s effectiveness. We feel that the Mat-Su residents deserve an ethics code that is up to date and fully represents the best interests of the public. Taxpayer dollars must adequately serve these interests, as should the service of our elected public officials. Assembly representatives have an obligation to uphold all federal and state laws and borough code, and must take their oath of office seriously. As part of this, the public deserves to the right to what the responsibilities are of our local government and who benefits from the decisions made by our elected officials.
The correct path forward is to allow borough residents the ability to work with the existing Ethics board to produce an ethics code that is up to date, maintains accountability and adequately represents the responsibilities our elected officials have to borough residents.
Bottom line: The assembly should send the code back to the ethics board for further work. It should ultimately adopt a borough code that keeps the ethics board independent, provides emphasis on serving the borough’s best interests, and adequately supplies the education and enforcement to make it happen.
Through a collaborative and transparent public process, we can address the issues that currently divide us and work together to find positive solutions. By using this approach, we can create a strong ethics code that reflects the needs of borough residents for the 21stcentury.
Please consider attending the regular MSB assembly meeting on Tuesday night January 17th at the borough assembly chambers to voice your concerns and urge the assembly to provide a thorough public process to revise the existing ethics code.
If you are not able to attend in person, please consider writing Assembly members to share your thoughts by clicking here.
Please let us know if you need help formulating your comments.
Usibelli Coal Mining Company Operating Without Valid Permit
Mat-Su Residents Ask Usibelli to Stop Operating Until the Company Obtains a Permit that Protects the Valley and Its Residents
Palmer, Alaska. In an effort to protect their families, their property, and the community, residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley sent a letter to Usibelli Coal Mining Company today asking them to stop operations at the Wishbone Hill site because the company does not have a coal mining permit.
“The development of the proposed Wishbone Hill coal mine will have lasting negative impacts on property values, air and water quality, wildlife, recreational access, public safety, and future economic opportunities for Mat-Su residents. A residential neighborhood is simply no place for a coal mine, ” said Jeremiah Millen of Friends of Mat-Su, a local planning organization representing residents across the Mat-Su Borough and a signatory of the letter.
According to the law, Usibelli does not have the necessary permit to mine at Wishbone Hill. However, since the summer of 2010, Usibelli has been engaged in illegal mining activity at Wishbone Hill. Residents hope the company will immediately stop all mining operations until it obtains a permit that ensures that the Valley and the community are protected. If Usibelli refuses to do so within the next sixty days, residents intend to go to court to protect themselves and the Mat-Su Valley.
“Usibelli Coal Company is not a good neighbor,” said Kirby Spangler, president of the Castle Mountain Coalition. “How can I trust a company that is mining without a permit? How can we be sure that they are protecting our water, wildlife, and community if they aren’t following the law?”
Many federal and state agencies have begun to question the accuracy of Usibelli’s permit applications. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation required Usibelli to resubmit their Air Quality Permit Application twice because of inaccurate information. In addition, the Federal Office of Surface Mining recently got more involved with the project.
This action comes of the heals of the Alaska Mental Health Trust selling about 11 square miles of land in Chickaloon to a massive Australian Mining company.
Proposed Regulations for the Hatcher Pass Special Use Area
Comments Due: Friday, Dec. 2 by 5PM
What:
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to adopt new regulations in Title 11, of the Alaska Administrative Code, 11 AAC 96.014(b). The proposed regulations include the restrictions on motorized recreational use as adopted in the 2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan (HPMP.)
Proposed Regulation Changes
To view the proposed regulations click here
Note: There are 7 pages total and some of the information pertains to regulations for Exit Glacier and Kasilof in addition to Hatcher Pass. Hatcher pass specific regulations are highlighted in bold.
More information including maps click here
Issues with the proposed regulation changes
Below is a list of comments and concerns after review from FoMS members. Our members have several concerns related to the vague nature of the proposed regulation changes and potential issues with future management. Feel free to use the comments listed below to guide your comments to DNR.
Commercial motorized recreation
DNR DMLW is including this activity within the East side designated (all year) non-motorized areas. (Mile 16, Government Peak, Independence, & portions of Reed lakes/Little Susitna and Archangel Units) They also consider allowing winter commercial recreation in the designated non-motorized areas on the East side. (Summit Lake State Recreation Site, the High Glacier Peaks, the Government Peak, the Independence, and portions of the Archangel and Reed Lakes/Little Susitna units) Meanwhile, the West side has no regulations, oversight or lacks adequate management. This will allow commercial motorized recreation to occur through DNR’s administrative permit process without public notice or input. DNR must provide a public process before allowing permitted commercial use.
Why would DNR choose to designate these areas for non-motorized recreation if they will be permitting motorized activities? This potentially leaves the door wide open for future motorized tours and other scenarios. DNR must ensure that there are specific management mechanisms are in place to prevent these activities from happening year round, every day, week or weekend?
In the revised management plan it cites code that states there are “specific stipulations” for managing winter commercial recreation. After review it was found that there are no stipulations. This is poor management. With this action, DNR will basically be creating a multi use designation in the non-motorized areas. DNR must provide greater specificity on what constitutes winter commercial recreation and what stipulations in the code will be used to manage these uses.
Predetermined dates for seasons
This is a problem as seasons and dates vary depending on the year and applying arbitrary dates will create the potential for abuse and to potential future litigation. If motorized recreation occurs on either side of these dates, and the habitat cannot accommodate the use due to insufficient snow cover or other conditions then enforcement would be deemed useless and the motorized recreationist is not held accountable. Under this management scenario, Rangers would have to stand idly by watching damage occur not have the ability to write a citation or issue a warning because it doesn’t occur within the dates? DNR must develop a dates that effectively accommodate seasonal dates variances from year to year.
Another special use
This is not well defined and there is no list that that provides any examples of what constitutes “special use.” Currently there are already issues with oversight for activities in Hatcher Pass of groups picking young ferns, fireweed and other vegetation in the spring. This occurs despite the minimal signage that states it is illegal to pick flowers or plants without a permit. This activity has increased substantially over the years and goes unchecked. DNR must provide greater clarity on how these activities will be managed.
Sufficient snow depth
This is not clearly defined. If the underlying vegetation is going to be protected then set a standard, this should be specified for consistency to be used by land managers and so the public knows what the regulations are. There is already damage occurring each season from motorized. DNR should clarify what constitutes “sufficient snow depth” and this should be clearly defined in the proposed regulations.
Shortfalls in Managing The West Side
DNR focuses on the East side exclusively and fails to address the West side all together. In the past DNR has stated that they lack adequate resources to provide enforcement and management for the West side. DNR must allocate the resources needed to adequately manage the West side.
If you have additional concerns that you think should be addressed please add them to your comments. Please remember that comments should be in your own words are most likely to be taken seriously if they are substantive and focused specifically to the topics listed in the proposed regulations or the Hatcher Pass Management plan.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE DUE FRIDAY, DECEMBER, 2nd by 5PM
How to submit your comments:
If sending by email send to both email addresses listed below:
joe.joyner@alaska.gov
dnrmlw@alaska.gov
By Mail
Attn: Joseph Joyner
Division of Mining, Land and Water
550 W 7th Ave., Suite 1070
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579
Fax: (907) 269-8904
Speak up to protect our communities and yourself from toxic herbicide spraying.
Jan 31
Posted by foms in News, Public Comments, Public Notices | Comments off
The Alaska Railroad applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for permission to apply herbicides Aquamaster and Agri-Dex along railroad right of ways in areas of Palmer/Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks stretching along 122 miles of track covering 243 acres.
Please consider testifying at the upcoming local hearings and submit written comments.
Local Hearings:
For Potential Talking Points and to learn more Click Here
Written Comments Due: March 12, 2012 by 4pm.
Important note: You must include the Project Name at the beginning of your comment or your comments will not be considered.
For More Information on the permits and to see maps for the for proposed spraying areas of Palmer, Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks Click Here.
Please copy and paste the Project Name in the subject of your email and as the first line of your email.
Please submit a separate comment for each of the three projects to:
Rebecca Colvin
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7802, Fax: 907-269-7600
Email: Rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov
Please send a copy of your comments to heather@akaction.org