Stephanie Joyce, APRN Contributor
Fish And Wildlife Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement For Proposed King Cove Road
For decades, the community of King Cove has lobbied for a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to nearby Cold Bay. Proponents say it’s critical for the remote community to have a more reliable way to evacuate medical patients. Conservation groups contend it would devastate critical wildlife habitat.
Cleveland Volcano Explodes For Third Time
Cleveland Volcano has exploded for the third time in just over a week. The latest eruption of the Aleutian volcano Tuesday afternoon was relatively small, according to a release from the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Confiscated Fishing Vessel To Be Sold
Five months after its seizure, the stateless fishing vessel Bangun Perkasa is still tied up at the dock in Unalaska – but not for much longer. Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court judge formally declared the vessel unclaimed. Now the government will seek forfeiture so the Bangun Perkasa can be sold – either for scrap or at auction.
Scientists Say Funding Cuts Threaten State’s Tsunami Preparedness
The federal government is proposing at least a million dollar reduction in funding for tsunami programs in Alaska. The agency in charge says the cuts are necessary and won’t hurt the state’s tsunami preparedness, but some scientists and officials disagree. They say the reduction in funding will weaken Alaska’s tsunami programs and leave the state’s coastal communities at risk.
Seismic Stations Pick Up Cleveland Blast
Cleveland Volcano has blown its top again. An explosion shook the restless Aleutian volcano at around 7:00 Wednesday night. There’s no monitoring network on the volcano itself, but distant seismic stations and sound arrays picked up the blast.
Atka Mackerel, Pacific Cod Won’t Return To Aleutians Until At Least 2015
There won’t be an Atka mackerel or Pacific cod fishery in the western Aleutians until at least 2015. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess ruled Monday that the National Marine Fisheries Service would have 23 months to assess the impact of its Steller sea lion protection measures in the region.
Unalaska To Settle Lawsuit For Clean Water Act Violation
The City of Unalaska has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency over more than 4,000 Clean Water Act violations by the City’s wastewater treatment plant. Although the lawsuit and settlement are unique to Unalaska, city officials say wastewater is likely going to be an issue in coming years for other Alaskan communities as well.
Fire Consumes St. Paul’s Trident Warehouse
Anchorage television station KTUU first reported that a warehouse owned by Trident Seafoods erupted in flames at about 10:30pm Thursday. While the fire has continued to smoke through the afternoon, a group of 25 responders, including Coast Guard personnel, have been able to keep it from spreading to nearby buildings.
AK: The Science of Ice
If you’ve been following the news about the fuel delivery to Nome or the Bering Sea snow crab fishery’s hiatus you may recognize the name Kathleen Cole. She’s a sea ice forecaster for the National Weather Service in Anchorage and her services have been in high demand this winter.
US Attorney’s Office Recommends Reduced Sentence For Fuglvog
The U.S. Attorney’s office is recommending a reduced sentence for Arne Fuglvog. The former fisheries aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski pleaded guilty in August to falsifying records for his sablefish catch in 2005. That year, illegal fishing earned Fuglvog an estimated $100,000. Court documents estimate the total value of Fuglvog’s illegal harvests between 2001 and 2006 at $1 million.
Ice Conditions Could Affect Fish Stocks
Bering Sea ice came in quickly this year and is at its largest extent since the 1970s. It has effectively shut down the snow crab fishery, causing problems for boats as far south as the Aleutians. But some scientists say that while it’s a pain in the short term, the ice is good for the Bering Sea’s valuable fisheries in the long run.
Sea Ice Delays Bering Sea Snow Crab Season
The Bering Sea snow crab season is on hold. Rapidly advancing sea ice has left crabbers scrambling to get their gear out of the water or stuck in port, waiting for better weather.
Name Change Proposed For Rat Island
The rats are gone from Rat Island and the name might follow suit. The Aleut Corporation and the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association recently voted to ditch the now-inaccurate moniker and revert to the traditional Unangan name.
Judge Upholds Fishing Restrictions In Western Aleutians
A federal judge has upheld the National Marine Fisheries Service’s decision to restrict fishing in the Western Aleutians in order to protect an endangered stock of marine mammals.
Crabbers Eye Advancing Ice
So far this year most parts of the Arctic have seen less sea ice than normal, but not in the Bering Sea. Persistent cold weather has brought the ice edge to within 40 miles of the Pribilof Islands. That’s a concern for fishermen heading north for the snow crab season.
Unalaska Storm Coats Birds In Ice
A storm sweeping through Unalaska Tuesday brought freezing spray that coated everything in town with a thick layer of ice – including the birds.
Crab Tender Runs Aground In Unalaska
A 180-foot crab tender ran aground in Unalaska Monday morning.
Jones Act Contains Provision On Passenger Transportation
Last week Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano waived the Jones Act for the Russian tanker Renda so it could transport gasoline from Unalaska to ice-bound Nome.
Scientists Downgrade Cleveland Volcano Aviation Alert Level
Scientists have downgraded the aviation alert level for Cleveland Volcano from orange to yellow. The volcano lies on a major international flight path and it put up a 15,000 foot ash cloud on Thursday.
Cleveland Volcano Erupts
The long-forecast eruption of Cleveland Volcano has finally happened. The volcano sent up a 15,000 foot ash cloud at around 8 o'clock on Thursday morning.