The Observer, March 2005
Legislative subcommittee tracks the action in Juneau
The council’s Legislative Affairs Committee has been set up to monitor developments in the Alaska Legislature.
The committee, formed in November, now consists of six members of the council board: Blake Johnson, chair; Connie Stephens, vice chair; and Walter Parker, Jody McDowell, John Velsko and Al Burch.
The committee’s work is supported by Juneau attorney Douglas Mertz, who serves under contract as the council’s legislative monitor.
In the early part of the legislative session – which began in January – the committee has been tracking two legislative packages of council concern. One, involving a state takeover from EPA of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (or NPDES), would change how operating permits are issued for the facility that cleans oily ballast water from tankers arriving at the Valdez terminal operated by Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.
The other legislation of interest deals with modifications to the Alaska Coastal Management Program, which gives coastal communities and interest groups some control over nearby development projects.
As the Observer went to press, the council had not taken a position on either matter, though the board was scheduled to consider taking a stand on the NPDES issue at its March meeting.
The Legislature adjourns in mid-May.
Blake Johnson