AK Supreme Court upholds supertanker tax

The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a property tax levied on supertankers entering the port of Valdez. The city of Valdez in 1999 began charging companies a tax based on the real value of tankers that docked to load up on crude oil from the trans-Alaska pipeline. Polar Tankers – a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips - objected, saying that it amounted to a double tax on their property. they also argued that it violated the due process, commerce, and tonnage clauses of the U.S. constitution.Matt Miller, KTOO - Juneau