Gulf of Alaska cod appears likely to lose key sustainability label
Climate change is threatening Alaska’s longstanding reputation for sustainable fisheries.
State gives timber industry group $1.3M in federal money to work with U.S. Forest Service
Documents obtained by Earthjustice show a contract between the state Division of Forestry and the Alaska Forest Association worth up to $1.3 million, or $260,000 a year, for a span of five years.
State approves pipeline lease for Donlin Gold, another step toward building the mine in Southwest Alaska
The state of Alaska approved a right-of-way lease for Donlin Gold’s proposed 315-mile gas pipeline on Jan. 17. The lease is an important step forward in the company’s quest to build the Donlin Gold Mine, which could be one of the largest in the world if completed.
An Anchorage attorney made a fortune fighting Big Oil in Alaska court. Now he’s funding the campaign to raise their taxes.
Frustrated by the industry-supported overhaul of oil taxes in 2013 and the unsuccessful campaign to repeal it, Robin Brena is chairing the citizens initiative to raise taxes. And he’s also the effort’s top funder, contributing more than $100,000 so far.
Agency overseeing BP-Hilcorp deal will hold public hearing, denying companies’ request
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska, which is overseeing Hilcorp's purchase of BP's stake in the trans-Alaska pipeline, plans to hold a six-hour public hearing on the deal next month.
Proposed $12 billion natural gas terminal near Prince Rupert draws skepticism
A new company would like to build a $12 billion natural gas export terminal in Southeast Alaska waters near Prince Rupert, British Columbia. But some aren’t convinced the project will be viable.
Sea ice begins to recede as Northwest Alaska cold snap dies down
The cold snap helped the sea ice form in the Chukchi and Bering Seas, but the recent shift is slowing it down.
Massive sea bird die-off linked to food scarcity during “the blob,” new study says
When the last “Blob” hit the Pacific, an area of the ocean larger than Canada experienced surface ocean temperatures rise as much as 7 degrees, completely altering the marine ecosystem for more than two years. The result was havoc in the food chain.
Alaska oil tax initiative has enough signatures for ballot, its supporters say
They plan to turn in the more than 43,000 signatures on Friday.
Federal judge rejects North Slope tribe’s challenge to Conoco drilling program
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a legal challenge Thursday that a North Slope tribal government had brought against President Donald Trump's administration's approval of oil drilling and other industrial activity nearby.
RCA says it needs another month to consider Hilcorp’s confidentiality request
Hilcorp is planning to buy BP's entire Alaska business, and it wants its financial records kept private.
Donlin Gold receives more state permits, moving closer to operating mine in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
The permits will allow Donlin to build an airstrip and a port, and install fiber optic cables and build access roads for its mine, which could be one of the biggest in the world, if completed.
Opening the Arctic Refuge brought Alaska’s largest Native corporation $22.5 million from BP and Chevron
Arctic Slope Regional Corp. collected $22.5 million from a pair of oil companies after Congress opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain to drilling in 2017, according to corporate documents.
As Anchorage warms, wintertime is defined by ice as much as snow
For many in Anchorage, winter and its accompanying outdoor opportunities are something to relish rather than escape. But residents of the state’s largest city are being forced to renegotiate their relationship with winters.
Polar bear protections delayed oil exploration in the Arctic Refuge. A new study shows how companies can still move forward.
A new study says that by using infrared sensors to detect dens, and accepting strict limits on when to survey specific areas of the coastal plain, polar bear disturbance can be dramatically reduced – from as many as eight dens if no restrictions are abided by, to one or less using the most conservative approach.
Chinook salmon are getting smaller, and researchers say killer whales may be to blame
Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, are getting smaller, and a team of scientists at the University of Washington think they know why. A new study says killer whales might be behind Chinook’s declining size.
Economists say the loss of BP jobs will be significant, but ‘not disastrous’ for Alaska’s economy
BP, which has been a major employer in Alaska for decades, is planning to sell all of its assets in the state to Hilcorp, a smaller, private company.
Alaska governor creates oversight committee for BP sale
“The purpose is to make sure the State of Alaska and its people are represented as this transaction moves forward,” said the governor’s office.
LISTEN: A Washington Post correspondent talks about reporting on climate change on Alaska’s North Slope
The Washington Post made the Alaska North Slope village of Nuiqsut front page news earlier this month, under a provocative headline: "Alaska's warming, but can't quit big oil." We talked with the reporter who wrote the story.
BP Alaska agrees to pay $125k fine over hazardous waste violations on North Slope
The EPA says the oil company didn’t maintain adequate insurance and failed to properly label hazardous materials.