October 12, 2018
Friday PM

There's a good chance you've heard of Ballot Measure 1, but if you're like most Alaskans, you're probably still wondering, "What does it do?" The ballot measure language itself is lengthy and extremely technical. Let me explain in simpler terms what it does, and why First Things First Alaska Foundation firmly believes you can stand for salmon and stand for Alaska without Ballot Measure 1.
 
Ballot Measure 1 seeks to change how the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reviews permits for projects near permanent or seasonal surface water bodies connected to anadromous fish habitat. An anadromous fish is one that spends a portion of it's life in fresh water, goes out to sea, and comes back to freshwater to spawn. Alaska has more than twenty-five species of anadromous fish. Take a look at how this fish habitat is defined and the broader application of those definitions.
 
Ballot Measure 1 defines “anadromous fish habitat” as naturally occurring permanent or intermittent seasonal water body, and the bed beneath, including all sloughs, backwaters, portions of floodplain covered by the mean annual flood, and adjacent riparian areas, that contribute, directly or indirectly to the spawning, rearing, migration, or overwintering of anadromous fish. Let that sink in. Any permanent or seasonal water body that contributes directly or indirectly to the spawning, migration, or overwintering of anadromous fish.
 
There is little land in Southeast Alaska that does not have water at sometime during the year that does not somehow drain into creeks, sloughs, or rivers flowing to marine water. Remember that it is not just the water, but also any adjacent land, that is covered by this Ballot Measure. Thus, most of Southeast Alaska will be presumed to be anadromous fish habitat unless it receives a site-specific designation by the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game that it is not anadromous fish habitat. This requirement alone will add cost and delay to any type of project.
 
That may seem reasonable, but let's look deeper in to the implications. Ballot Measure 1 would make it much more difficult to permit public infrastructure such as roads, wastewater treatment plants, ports and other vital infrastructure. It would make hydropower development more costly, if not impossible, to permit thus reducing many rural areas access to renewable energy sources.
 
And, let us not forget that state government will have new control over the property your home is on. The definitions apply to your private property as well. Your home is likely to be classified as anadromous fish habitat unless you are able to get ADF&G to prove otherwise. The proof must be supported by a written finding and verifiable documentation that it is not anadromous fish habitat. One can only imagine the cost and time to the individual to reclaim use of your property. If that weren't concerning enough, the ballot measure also allows any interested person to appeal the determination. An "interested person" can be anyone, even a non-Alaskan.
 
Ballot Measure 1 does not grandfather existing operations. Once current permits expire, existing operations would need to reapply for permits under this new system. Many operations would be unable to get approved under the new regulations, forcing them to shut down. Current operations, like the Greens Creek and Kensington mines, would not have been permitted under this initiative. Stated another way, two of the largest private sector employers in Juneau would not exist today had this ballot measure been in place when they were permitted.
 
The requirement that all mitigation be done on site severely limits many mining projects and many other projects. For example, the Juneau airport runway extension required off-site mitigation, as it was impossible to expand the runway without mitigating impacts to water bodies elsewhere. Under Ballot Measure 1, the runway expansion would have been highly unlikely, in spite of the need for the expansion for passenger safety reasons. This ballot measure also places your safety at risk.
 
We all support our salmon resources, but Ballot Measure 1 goes too far. Alaska has a stellar record of protecting and balancing our resources. We have been doing it right for more than half a century. We don’t need this poorly written ballot measure.
 
Neil MacKinnon Is President of First Things First Alaska Foundation (FTFAF) that is dedicated to preserving the economic viability and future of Alaska through education. There is a clear need to educate the public on the benefits of responsible economic development and natural resource management.
 
Neil MacKinnon
Juneau Alaska

About: Neil MacKinnon Is President of First Things First Alaska Foundation (FTFAF) that is dedicated to preserving the economic viability and future of Alaska through education. There is a clear need to educate the public on the benefits of responsible economic development and natural resource management.

Editor's Note:

The text of this letter was NOT edited by the SitNews Editor.

Received October 11, 2018 - Published October 12, 2018

Related Viewpoint:

Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:

Webmail Your Opinion Letter to the Editor

 

SitNews ©2018
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.