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Alaskans hope for reinstatement of coastal plan

February 17th 3:13 pm | Hannah Heimbuch Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Alaska boasts twice the coastline of the rest of the continental United States. State management of that lengthy swath, however, is in the midst of a belated regrouping as Alaskans demand a new coastal management initiative be added to this year's ballot.

The Alaska Sea Party, the driving force behind the coastal management initiative, submitted a petition to the Alaska State Legislature containing more than 25,000 Alaskans' signatures.

The state's previous program lapsed last June when it was not reauthorized by the Legislature — an outcome that baffled many citizens who see the program as absolutely vital.

"We have so much riding in the management of our coastal zone plan," said Bristol Bay Borough Manager Patrick Jordan. "To not have a coastal management plan is really unbelievable."

The Bristol Bay Borough, which donated $4,000 toward the initiative and getting those petition signatures, are among the many entities supporting a state program.

"It's a mechanism for providing local input in terms of resource and local decision making," said Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, adding that it provides a forum for multiple groups to come together on issues impacting the coastline, from resource use and development to permit review.

Despite widespread support, reauthorization fell short by a few votes last year because of disagreement about the bill's composition, the entanglement of several other issues and budget disagreements, Edgmon said.

While many clearly remain in favor now, just how the institution of a program will come about is still up for debate. The initiative has enough signatures to go on the ballot, but the legislature has the ability to preempt that ballot decision by introducing substantially similar legislation.

"Right now there is no legislation to reauthorize in either the house or in the senate, but my expectation is there will be," Edgmon said. "The debate last year was very intense and exhaustive and extremely time consuming. Whether or not the legislature has the will to go through that process again this year remains to be seen."

Still, Edgmon remains confident a preemptive legislative measure will surface and begin establishment of a program.

In the mean time, the multitude of Alaskans that call the coastline home awaits some sort of decision that reinstates a management plan. That includes Dillingham Mayor Alice Ruby.

"Particularly here in upper Bristol Bay, we aren't part of a borough system so there's a lot of area outside of our municipal boundaries where we don't have any formal role in state policy or federal permits," Ruby said. "There's no deference to our concerns we might have as residents of the region where permits are being issued."

Discussion continues within the legislative body on how to move forward with this issue.

 

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