Contents

4/24/13

In case you missed this in the Frontiersman last week – Griffith talked about possible power sources for MEA:

“Griffith said adding Watana to the mix in Southcentral will be a challenge since the plan put forward thus far includes the hydroelectric generation facility that would generate an average of 2.5 million megawatt hours a year, but does not include money to tie it into the Railbelt Intertie system.”

Full article: http://www.frontiersman.com/news/mea-may-have-gas-source/article_49c235f6-a64c-11e2-8462-0019bb2963f4.html

Corinne Smith

Mat-Su Basin Program Director

The Nature Conservancy of Alaska

(907) 865-5721 please note my new direct line

(907) 276-3133 office (ext. 121)

(907) 317-8825 cell

corinne_smith@tnc.org

4/22/13

The Cordova Times uses the same banner font as the New York Times. Yes!

4/4/13

Congratulations to Brooke at Trustees and all organizations involved!

http://www.adn.com/2013/04/01/2847621/court-ak-must-look-at-cumulative.html

Court: Alaska must look at cumulative oil, gas impacts

3/9/13

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/focus-climate-change-arctic-could-110000505.html

Focus on Climate Change in the Arctic Could Yield Environmental and Financial Dividends, Panel Concludes

2/25/13

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/07/bp_oil_spill_dispersants_may_h.html

All the oil spill contingency plans I've seen since the BP spill rely heavily on the use of chemical dispersants. This is another study showing that BOEM should revisit that simpleminded approach. - j

Mote Study: BP Oil Spill Cleaning Chemical Kills Coral
Patch.com
The 2010 BP disaster spilled more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and responders used these dispersants, one called Corexit 9500, to prevent the oil from reaching beaches. "Overall, these findings indicate that exposure of coral ...
See all stories on this topic »

-- 
John Amos - President, SkyTruth
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
(o) 304.885.4581 (m) 304.260.8886
skype: skytruth.amos

1/22/13

http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2013-01-02&val=879796&cat=material

NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. Its flagship asset is the 50%-owned Donlin Gold project in Alaska, one of the safest jurisdictions in the world. With approximately 39 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated resource categories (541 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.2 grams per tonne), Donlin Gold is regarded to be one of the largest, and most prospective known gold deposits in the world.

1/14/13

Oil Spill Specialist Dr. Riki Ott: A Message of Warning and Hope

Printer-friendly versionA Watershed Sentinel Comox Valley report by Delores Broten
On a hot Friday evening in August, a packed audience at the Native Sons Hall in Courtenay BC listened spell bound and sometimes close to tears to marine toxicologist Dr. Riki Ott. In an event sponsored by World Community, Ott was describing the long term impacts to fish, mammals, and humans from the Exxon Valdez, Deepwater Gulf, and Kalamazoo River oil spills.
Ott, who was a commercial fisher in Cordova Alaska as well as a trained scientist, was in a unique position when Prince William Sound was hit by the Exxon Valdez oil spill 23 years ago. She described how the response to the spill was nothing like what had been promised by the oil companies before the port was opened.
She talked about how any spill response actually collects, at the most, 15% of the spilled oil, whichcontinues to cycle through the ecosystem with every tide. “They said it was cleaned up,” she said, "but two years later the pink salmon run failed, and four years later the herring disappeared. The herring fishery is now closed indefinitely.” Herring eggs fail when exposed to oil at one part per trillion.
The most poignant - and pungent - witness to the impossibility of “clean up” were two small jars Ott circulated through the hall. They were filled with sand and beach stones from a beach that had been considered “cleaned up” for two decades. The jars stank of oil, and the woman next to me, who touched the stones, scrambled for a tissue to clean her fingers."We can respond to an oil spill," declared Dr. Ott, "We can never clean it up."
Worst of all, Ott said, was the impact on the community, which was in chaos, as debt and despair ate at family and social life. The small fishing community of Cordova had to pull together and revision its values. It has managed to resuscitate itself, with the help of local economic development such as niche marketing of a salmon run from the Copper River, which was not impacted by the spill.
The dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon Gulf drill-rig spill did little to help the “clean up”, actually masking the presence of the oil and its toxic constituents. The dispersants caused a fine spray of micro-PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are major health hazards, causing cancer, asthma, hormone, and reproductive problems) to enter people’s bodies not only through the air but invisibly from water through the skin. “Ultra-fine particles,” explained Ott, “mimic mammal hydrocarbons, and are drawn into the body, jamming immune system and DNA functions.”
Those hydrocarbons bonded to the biofilm on the sand, sinking to a depth of nine inches, whereas the beach clean up only went down 8 inches. Responders were not allowed to wear respirators, even though that is now standard practice in oil spill response, because it would look bad in the media. The PAHs have not gone away, and are still causing major disruptions, despite the government and industry spin. In the Gulf now up to half the shrimp in some catches have no eyes or eye sockets. The impact on other mammals like dolphins and whales continues, while the human population has received an inadequate $7.8 billion in medical benefits.
The Enbridge Kalamazoo River spill in Michigan is even more problematic, since the ruptured pipeline was carrying Alberta tar sands oil – dilbit—bitumen diluted with lighter petroleum products plus other undisclosed chemicals. When the pipe ruptured, the dilbit separated with lighter compounds evaporating, causing the lighter PAHs to spread far and wide, and the heavy tar sands gunk to sink to the bottom of the river, spreading for 40 kilometres. Human health impacts have not been recognised by government or industry but suspicious numbers of dead at a trailer court close to the spill seem almost certain to be caused by breathing the air. Community groups have now begun testing the air for themselves because of a lack of response from the oil company or government.
In all this, insisted Ott, over and over again, whether 23 years ago or two, the communities find themselves alone, with ruined environments, ruined industries, and lingering but unrecognised personal health impacts. Citizens, she said, are the victims of ‘lies and betrayal,” being sacrificed for the economy. Her response, especially to the issue of the proposed dilbit pipelines facing BC, is that crisis provides the opportunity to reorganize, decide what wealth means in your community, and develop democratically-driven local economies, such as those championed by the Transition Town movement. “Protect your local wealth with local laws,” and work for real democracy. “We can believe in it. We can work for it. It’s not a goal, it’s a journey.”
Riki Ott told the Watershed Sentinel that the recent upsurge in organizing activity through the Occupy movement is a massive opportunity for movement building, with three and four generations of people coming together for social change. When asked, she suggested that the role of the experienced grassroots of the environmental movement now is to help these “new recruits”: “Empower these folks,” sharing skills and historical knowledge.
Ott’s journeys of over 300 days a year on the road, are driven by the need to network small communities together, building a transcontinental movement which will move toward a real economics – one of community wealth and happiness, and diverse energy options. It is a journey we will all share, down one branch of the road or another. Riki Ott said, the question she asked herself after the Exxon Valdez spill was: “I know enough to make a difference. Do I care enough?”
Many of the almost 200 people at the meeting went home with the same question resonating for them.

1/9/13

Shell's Kulluk Incident Affects All Alaskans

http://homertribune.com/2013/01/shell%e2%80%99s-kulluk-incident-affects-all-alaskans/

1/7/13

Nice list of videos of the Kulluk grounding/salvage activities

http://www.ktuu.com/ktuu-grounding-of-kulluk-drilling-rig-20130103,0,4865809.special

 

12/18/12

Buccaneer applies for an Amendment to it's North Cook Inlet Oil Spill Prevention and Contingency Plan. Comments due December 28.

12/17/12

Buccaneer applies for unit at Kenai Loop

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Buccaneer Alaska Operations LLC, which has been producing natural gas from its 2011 Kenai Loop No. 1 discovery well since January, has applied for a 7,500-acre Kenai Loop unit. The proposed unit is on the northern Kenai Peninsula on a ridge between the Cannery Loop and Beaver Creek fields. The Ala....
 

12/14/12

Action Alert

Deadline for comments on seismic work south of Ninilchik is DECEMBER 21, 5pm!

CC:

10/31/12

From: Richard Charter <waterway@monitor.net>
Date: Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Subject: [ocs] Buccaneer Contengency Plan Posted | City of Homer Alaska Official Website
To: Outer Continental Shelf List <ocs@groups.b-team.org>
 

http://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/economicdevelopment/buccaneer-contengency-plan-posted

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» Buccaneer Contengency Plan Posted

Buccaneer Contengency Plan Posted

At the request of Homer City Council, Thursday October 26 Buccaneer Alaska delivered a copy of their Oil Discharge Prevention

Plan for Cook Inlet to City Hall. According to Vice President of Land and Business Development Mark R. Landt, Buccaneer has not yet submitted a final Blow out Prevention Plan but will give Council a copy when they do. You can link to the Contingency Plan and supporting documents below.

Supporting Documents

Buccaneer Alaska Oil Discharge Prevention and Contengency Plan for Cook Inlet

Buccaneer Alaska East End Road Map

Buccaneer Alaska Traffic Control Plan

10/22/12

Cosmo drilling first

State OKs deferral of Buccaneer’s Southern Cross, Northwest Cook Inlet wells

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110908007154/en/Buccaneer-Energy-Title-Sponsor-Kenai-Chamber-Commerce%E2%80%99s

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/GIS/Data/ActivityMaps/CookInlet/Cook_Inlet_Oil_and_Gas_Activity_Map_20120724.pdf&sa=U&ei=J9OBUPSyDeGkyQHK14DIBQ&ved=0CB0QFjAB&usg=AFQjCNEWuKiGZ7oITtcq6eTqlQ69H9CJNg

9/5/12

On Wed 05/09/12 12:14 AM , carlwassilie.acyn@gmail.com sent:

Hey Peter,
Here's a photo of the Buccaneer rig on Saturday out of Homer taken by Amy Snider.

Center for Water Advocacy (CWA) would like to talk fairly urgently about this Buccaneer jack-up rig heading for the Upper Cook Inlet, and their Oil Spill Contingency Plans.

I've cc'd CWA board member Walt Parker, CWA Executive Director Harold Shephard, and CWA Human Rights Coordinator Nikos Pastos.


Thanks,
Carl Wassilie

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

8/18/12

Hi,

Governor Parnell proposes a 220-mile road from the Dalton Highway to
the Ambler Mining District through the southern Brooks Range so that
foreign companies may extract Alaska's resources. As of July 2012,
the road to Ambler has received $9.25 million from the state Capital
Budget since 2010 to study the route options. The road itself would
cost at least $430 million to build and $8.5 million a year to
maintain. Private corporations should gamble with their own money,
not the state's.

That's why I signed a petition to The Alaska State House, The Alaska
State Senate, and Governor Sean Parnell, which says:

"Governor Parnell, stop your aggressive push to build a 220 mile road
from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District over 161 of
Alaska's rivers and streams. It is fiscally irresponsible and
environmentally disastrous."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/no-road-to-ambler?source=s.em.mt&r_by=1402138

Thanks!

6/8/12

9th Cir shot Plaintiffs down are every single allegation
and claim of violations on the outer shelf drilling !

http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2012/06/06/11-72891.pdf

4/24/12

Spill 60 times bigger than Shell maintains

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/04/23-7#.T5XLgHTvqNY.facebook

4/16/12

Important data to use against those saying that TAPS is in imminent danger of low flow…

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-alaska-oilbre836022-20120406,0,1447419.story

4/2/12

"Cook Inlet Projects Underway"

3/28/12

Notice for the "Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 for OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2012." The link is:

 https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/03/27/2012-7337/outer-continental-shelf-ocs-alaska-ocs-region-cook-inlet-planning-area-proposed-oil-and-gas-lease#h-4

Comments on the lease sale are due by May 11.

3/23/12

3/8/12

Shell oil rig set for landmark Alaska journey

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alaska-drill-20120304,0,7228599.story

2/22/11

1/31/12

http://www.frontiersman.com/news/officials-seek-pr-firm-for-susitna-dam-process/article_608e1cea-4a46-11e1-ae8f-001871e3ce6c.html
 

Officials seek PR firm for Susitna dam process

1/9/12

http://www.frontiersman.com/news/aussie-firm-wins-coal-bid/article_4e806916-382d-11e1-97c2-0019bb2963f4.html

Austrialin Mining Co. wins bid to drill near Sutton, AK.

1/4/12

http://www.propublica.org/series/fracking

Fracking becomes household term; Canada is major site for fracking and
"My Waters on Fire!"

12/20/11

Fracking Rap Videa Named One of Best for 2011

A music video about "fracking"? Last week, Time magazine named a funny video about the natural-gas extraction process called fracking the No. 2 most creative video of 2011.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-fracking-rap-video-named-one-of-best-of-2011-20111215,0,5753228.story

12/15/11

"A series of flawed decisions by companies working on BP’s failed Macondo well, poor oversight by federal regulators and a 'misplaced trust' in emergency equipment guarding the site led to the lethal Deepwater Horizon disaster, the National Academy of Engineering concluded today."

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/12/14/nae-flawed-decisions-shoddy-oversight-led-to-2010-oil-spill/

12/01/11

Hi Harold, Royal Dutch Shell plans to drill offshore in the Chukchi Sea next summer. However, the energy corporation not only doesn't have a viable plan to deal with an oil spill, but the area where they intend to drill is highly ecologically sensitive. A spill would spell doom for the region's polar bears, walruses, and ribbon seals. Keep Big Oil out of North America's Arctic Ocean! » Lawsuite and advocacy have so far held Shell back from invading this pristine, sensitive corner of the world. However, the Interior Department is moving forward with the permitting process, and we need to keep fighting! Sign this petition to urge President Obama to do everything in his power to protect the Chukchi Sea from Shell! » Thanks for taking action! Ellyn ThePetitionSite P.S. Is there something in Moab, Utah or United States that you want to change? Care2 provides free access to the most powerful petition tools on the web today so that every person gets the chance to speak out for their cause in the Care2 community and beyond. Get started: http://www.care2.com/create/start-petition

Keep Big Oil Out of the Arctic Ocean!

11/28/11

Buccaneer Spill Prevention Plan Available for Public Comment

            In November, Buccaneer Alaska, Inc. submitted its Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP) for exploration activities in upper Cook Inlet to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The ODCPCP is intended to comply with the provisions of the Alaska Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Control Regulations which require potential oil and gas operators in marine waters to submit a detailed plan illustrating how oil spills or blowouts will be prevented or controlled should they occur.

            Although, Buccaneer states that it is prepared to use all available and relevant response tactics to control spills and to apply strategies, equipment, and response contractors to facilitate and expedite cleanup of any remaining spills, the ODCPCP barely mentions the appropriate use of relief wells which is the most effective means of preventing and controlling major oil blowouts. IAlso, regardless of the recent listing of the Cook Inlet beluga whale under the Endangered species act and that the Buccaneer oil platform will be placed within the critical habitat of the Beluga, the Plan fails to even mention how it will prevent oil spills from further jeopardizing the continued existence of the species.

What You Can Do:

Send Comments, by December 15, on the Buccaneer Contingency Plan to:

Dianne Munsen

Environmental Program Manager

Department of Environmental Conservation

555 Cordova St.

Anchorage, AK 99501

(907)269-2694

dianne.munson@alaska.gov

Tell DEC not to endorse the Buccaneer ODCPCP until it complies with the BAT standards which require that oil and gas blowout prevention contingency plans cover all aspects of responding to an oil spill including the drilling of relief wells concurrently with or immediately after the original well.  Also, tell them that, before approval, it is essential that the ODCPCP address, in detail, how Buccaneer will prevent impacts to the endangered Cook Inlet Beluga whales should a major spill or blowout occur.

11/23/11

Dear Carl, There's huge news today out of Alaska: A federal judge just rejected the state's attempts to deny Endangered Species Act protection for Cook Inlet beluga whales. Today's ruling is a major victory in our decade-long battle to protect the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, one of Alaska's most imperiled species whose population plummeted from 1,300 in the 1970s to only just 300 to 400 today. Thank you. Belugas wouldn't be getting the protections they need and deserve without your help and support over the last 12 years and the major push this year to stop Alaska's latest attacks. This win is the latest chapter in a long-term fight for the survival of belugas -- and it's far from over. The Center for Biological Diversity first petitioned to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales under the Endangered Species Act in 1999. The whale population faced a long list of powerful threats, including oil and gas development and pollution from Anchorage, the fastest-growing watershed in Alaska. We finally won Endangered Species Act protections for Cook Inlet belugas in 2008, and in early 2011, our long-running efforts secured protection for nearly 2 million acres of their habitat. But shortly after belugas were listed in 2008, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced politically motivated plans to sue over the listing, which sparked the lawsuit under Gov. Sean Parnell -- the lawsuit that we defeated today. The Center and allies fought back Palin's suit in court and, today, the judge rejected the state's arguments, saying the Fisheries Service's decision to protect the belugas was based on the best available science. I'm proud to say that the dedication and support of our members and staff brought about this critical win for the whales, and I want to share today's victory with you. For now, thanks to your efforts, Cook Inlet beluga whales will continue to get the protections they desperately need and that the Center has fought so long and so hard to secure. Please share this win with your friends and post on Facebook. Here's to a future for beluga whales that's safe, secure and long-lasting.   Kierán Suckling Executive Director Center for Biological Diversity P.S. Even as we celebrate today's win, we can't let our guard down. Alaska's beluga population still faces a long list of threats, including offshore oil development in its habitat and a state government that remains hostile to its survival. The Center will keep you updated on our work to save these belugas and let you know about any new attacks.

10/14/11

10/6/11

During this week's Southern States Energy Board’s Governors Energy Summit, various state senators from both sides of the aisle voiced their thoughts on proposals to revive offshore energy exploration, weighing in on how it would affect our economy, environment and dependence on foreign oil. That dependence and the risk many associate with it is an issue that continues to be covered, and as international oil trade analyst Raymond Learsy explores in his new book Oil and Finance, it's an issue that has shaped our relationship with and perception of our nation's political system, oil industry and financial sector.

Would you be interested in interviewing Mr. Learsy on this topic and the new issues brought forth by the Summit, or can I send you a copy of his book?

Thanks for your consideration,

Jessica Kiefer
jkiefer@bohlsenpr.com
317.602.7137

9/29/11

Homer News                                                                                     September 27, 2011

3482 Landings Street

Homer, Alaska  99603

-Opinion Piece- (Word count 706)

HEA General Manager Brad Janorschke’s dismissive response to a spate of recent letters critical of HEA’s misguided scheme to build a hydropower dam on the headwaters of the Kenai River was entirely characteristic of HEA’s arrogant approach to the project.

Mr. Janorschke slyly suggested the public should reserve comment on HEA’s Grant Lake project until 2013, pending completion of studies because he understands (as do developers of the Pebble Mine and the Chuit River Coal Mine) that state and federal permitting processes exist for the sole purpose of authorizing resource development projects. HEA knows once studies are completed and it can begin shepherding its project through the banal formalities of permitting and licensing, no amount of public opposition will prevent agency approvals to construct the dam.

Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the disastrous impacts to Cooper Creek’s salmon and rainbow trout fisheries wrought by the Cooper Lake dam, many of the worst environmental effects of hydropower development are typically not identified, much less publicly disclosed until too late, and many impacts are never successfully mitigated. The Grant Lake dam presents so many tangible risks to other resources and values that it is quite obviously not in the public interest - no amount of studies can turn a bad project into a good one.  

The following observations concerning the Grant Lake project are in response to Mr. Janorschke’s concern “that the information being cited is accurate”:

·         The following Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) staff comments appeared in AEA’s most recent Grant Lake project evaluation -

“AEA has the following concerns about this project:

1. There is significant public opposition to the project.

2. We think it’s going to cost more to mitigate impacts of features not yet anticipated in the cost estimate, such as i) relocation of the roadway and transmission line due to presence of Iditarod Commemorative trail (currently permitted and under development), and ii) the cost of constructing a new tailrace pond.

3. We expect that in the FERC licensing process, there will be constraints on the operation of the project that will significantly impact the amount of energy that

can be produced. For instance, energy output will be reduced in order to maintain environmental stream flows and lake levels necessary to mitigate impact on fisheries.”

·         The dam is not needed to meet HEA electrical demand following expiration of HEA’s contract with Chugach Electric or required as a source “spinning reserves” – HEA’s Independent Light project will supply 206 Megawatts (MW), and according to Mr. Janorschke, 118 MW will be available “to provide peaking and reserve power to ensure a high level of reliability on the HEA system.”

·         The project would supply less than 1% of HEA’s electrical demand, but is expected to cost 2 ½ times more per MW of installed generation capacity than comparable hydro projects in Alaska, and while HEA claims the project could save up to $41 million in avoided fuel costs, operation and maintenance costs would likely exceed $50 million.

It seems hypocritical for Mr. Janorschke to ask HEA ratepayers and the public to withhold comment until 2013, to wait on studies, and to let the project “stand or fall on its own merits”, given that he (backed  by the unanimous blessing of HEA’s board of directors) has already requested AEA to provide construction funds for the project – despite the project has not yet been authorized and it would ultimately require all of us to endure the negative environmental, social and economic impacts and to absorb, one way or another, most of the estimated $80 million in development and operational costs over the next 30 - 50 years.

Mr. Janorschke also conveniently failed to mention that energy conservation is included in HEA’s renewable energy portfolio – consequently, conservation measures combined with other renewable energy alternatives, including the East Foreland Tidal Energy Project and the Battle Creek addition to the Bradley Lake hydropower facility might achieve HEA’s renewable energy objectives.

At a time when hydropower dams are being removed from rivers in the Pacific Northwest due to their myriad impacts, especially to Pacific salmon and steelhead stocks, and recognizing the Kenai Peninsula’s economic dependence on its fisheries, it is obvious to most people that HEA’s Grant Lake dam simply should not happen.

Mike Cooney

P.O. Box 169

Moose Pass, Alaska 99631

(907) 288 5022

mcooney@arctic.net

9/22/11

Making headlines and creating nationwide discussion over the past few days, the topic of peak oil graced a full page (by Daniel Yergin) of the Wall Street Journal weekend edition and a front page article in Tuesday's New York Times (by Simon Romero). But an international oil trade analyst is weighing in on the new revelations surrounding the issue, which he says aren't so new.

Raymond J. Learsy, author of the newly released Oil and Finance: The Epic Corruption, is shedding light on the topic with a contributing piece in today's Huffington Post ('EXTRA! NYT and WSJ finally catch up, report 'peak oil' theory is bogus'). Learsy, who covers the topic in his book as well, cites his similar coverage from 2006 and 2007, including a piece covering peak oil as the oil industry's way of playing consumers for fools.

Would you be interested in interviewing Learsy on this topic, or can I send you a copy of Oil and Finance?

Thanks for your consideration,

Jessica Kiefer
jkiefer@bohlsenpr.com | 317.602.7137

8/26/11

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/08/cook-inlet-tribes-oil-rush-threatens.html?spref=tw   Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Cook Inlet Tribes: Oil rush threatens Beluga Whales Alaska's Big Village Network, Center for Water Advocacy, Cook Inlet Tribes, hunters, fisher peoples, and citizens are concerned about the critical habitat and actual recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in Escopeta's rush for oil and gas activity. Questions of profound concern linger over the decline of Cook Inlet eulachon fishes since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These fish are one of the major food species for humans and Cook Inlet Beluga Whales By Nikos Pastos  Center for Water Advocacy, Homer Alaska Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com ANCHORAGE -- Today, the Pacific States/BC Oil spill task force meetings are taking place in Anchorage. These meetings will address the Pacific States and British Columbia, US and Canadian preparedness for preventing oil spills and blowouts offshore. This meeting is setting the framework for and emerging discussion amongst Native Villages, Tribal governments, conservation organizations and other stakeholders about oil spill and blow out preparedness in Cook Inlet. Mary Ann Mills, chair of Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes, said, “The Cook Inlet Tribes have not been notified, there's no information, no details of the Escopeta Company oil and gas activity in Cook Inlet. The traditional hunters cannot hunt but it seems that industry has no problem on permits to incidental take, and to harass endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. "The Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes understanding is that nothing would be done until the tribes have substantive government -to-government input through the consultation process. The Tribes are still waiting," Mills said. "We are confident that there will be no oil and gas action taken until the Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes have adopted a Coastal Zone Management Plan . The Tribes of Cook Inlet will be addressing a Coastal Zone Management Plan at the next CITT meeting.” Escopeta Company is rushing oil and gas activity by pushing a jack –up Spartan 151 drill rig into critical Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Habitat for a "Cash Prize" from the State of Alaska with little or no Federal or State oversight, especially considering the State of Alaska recently dumped the Alaska Coastal Management Program. Oil spill contingency plans are thus questioned in Cook Inlet, and in the Arctic Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Alaska's Big Village Network, Center for Water Advocacy, Cook Inlet Tribes, hunters, fisher peoples, and citizens are concerned about the critical habitat and actual recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in Escopeta’s rush for oil and gas activity. Questions of profound concern linger over the decline of Cook Inlet eulachon fishes since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These fish are one of the major food species for humans and Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. Dr. John French, Pegasus Environmental Solutions of Alaska, said, “When considering Unusual Mortality Events of unknown causes, we should not ignore adverse events affecting marine mammals and other species, until we know that adverse ecosystem impacts are not caused by oil and gas activities or oil spill response activities." The Escopeta Company activity in Cook Inlet is significant oil and gas activity that warrants public participation and review. The drrilling is located in the middle of the Endangered Species Act listed endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whale migratory pathways. These pathways are critical to the recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whale habitat. Carl Wassailed Biologist of Alaska’s Big Village Network said, “Scientist have yet to determine Marine noise pollution impacts, like new drilling rigs, on young Cook Inlet Beluga Whales that frequent inland waters to escape natural predation by killer whales. And this time of year many belugas are foraging on multiple species of salmon as they migrate to spawning rivers and streams in Cook Inlet."   Walt Parker, former Chairman of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Commission, said, “Lessons learned from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and the BP Deepwater Horizon should be implemented in oil spill contingency plans. There should be a public review of the oil spill contingency plans for Cook Inlet and the Beaufort and Chuckchi Seas,"  Harold Shepherd Water Policy Consultant said, “Until just recently it appeared National Marine Fisheries Service was the only governmental agency that was concerned about an oil spill blowout regarding the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales and suddenly we hear yesterday that Senator Begich and NOAA Director Dr. Lubchenko are meeting with the stakeholders of the oil and gas industry to streamline the permitting process. It sounds like NMFS has done an about face on oil spill contingency planning in Cook Inlet." "Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were done on our Beluga Whale hunters, even after 10 years of standing down on the harvest; why does Escopeta get to rush a drilling rig with NO updated Environmental Impact Statement, and no notification to Tribal governments or Tribal communities? This action clearly and disproportionately burdens the indigenous peoples of Cook Inlet whom have used and occupied the historic waters of Cook Inlet for customary and traditional hunting, fishing and gathering, commerce and navigation since time immemorial." The adverse cumulative impacts, risk assessments and oil spill contingency plans are inadequate for Cook Inlet, an Historical Bay. There is national and international interest in following federal in protecting invaluable natural resources.  Nikos Pastos, Center for Water Advocacy, said Federal Agencies have an obligation to implement federal acts such as NEPA, MMPA, ESA, and Executive Order 13175 on government to government Consultation, and Executive Order 12898 Environmental Justice and President Obama’s Executive Order 13366 Section 1B Committee on Ocean Policy which states, “to facilitate , as appropriate, coordination and consultation regarding ocean related matters among the Federal, State, Tribal governments, the private sector , foreign governments and international organizations." Contact:   Nikos Pastos Board Treasurer Center for Water Advocacy, Homer Alaska www.centerforwateradvocacy.org  907-764-2561 Carl Wassilie Biologist Alaska’s Big Village Network Anchorage, Alaska www.AkBigVillageNetwork.blogspot.com 907-382-3403 FOOTNOTES: ESCOPETA notice requirements were supposed to have been provided to the Cook Inlet Villages and their Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council regarding the Spartan 151 Jack-up rig. This requirement is contained in the Alaska Coastal Management Programs' Escopeta North Cook Inlet (Offshore), Kitchen Prospect Exploration State ID N0, and AK2006-0201OG Final Consistency Determination which states on page 6: "2. Escopeta Oil & Gas Corporation will coordination with the Native Village of Tyrone, The Kenai Peninsula Borough Coastal Management Program, the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council (and others as per Escopeta's Plan of Operations) to ensure that Escopeta's activities avoid and minimize potential adverse impacts to Beluga whales; the availability of fish and wildlife for commercial and subsistence uses; as well as the quality of life for Alaskans. 3. Commercial, sport and subsistence interests stakeholders who have expressed interest during the company's outreach programs will be notified by Escopeta at least 48 hours before transport of the drilling vessel in Cook Inlet waters...." Beluga Whale Picture http://carinbondar.com/2010/12/baby-belugas-are-right-brained-just-like-me/ “Application of Best Available Technology & the Zero Discharge Standard to Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Development “ www.kbayconservation.com” 907-299-8821 Posted by brendanorrell@gmail.com at 8:01 AM

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http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/08/cook-inlet-tribes-oil-rush-threatens.html?spref=tw     CENSORED NEWS Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights   Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Cook Inlet Tribes: Oil rush threatens Beluga Whales   Alaska's Big Village Network, Center for Water Advocacy, Cook Inlet Tribes, hunters, fisher peoples, and citizens are concerned about the critical habitat and actual recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in Escopeta's rush for oil and gas activity. Questions of profound concern linger over the decline of Cook Inlet eulachon fishes since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These fish are one of the major food species for humans and Cook Inlet Beluga Whales By Nikos Pastos  Center for Water Advocacy, Homer Alaska Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com ANCHORAGE -- Today, the Pacific States/BC Oil spill task force meetings are taking place in Anchorage. These meetings will address the Pacific States and British Columbia, US and Canadian preparedness for preventing oil spills and blowouts offshore. This meeting is setting the framework for and emerging discussion amongst Native Villages, Tribal governments, conservation organizations and other stakeholders about oil spill and blow out preparedness in Cook Inlet.   MaryAnn Mills, chair of Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes, said, "The Cook Inlet Tribes have not been formally notified or consulted with regard to the Escopeta Company activity in the Cook Inlet. The traditional hunters have not hunted for many years and the beluga numbers have not significantly changed. This leads many to realize other things are going on in the Cook Inlet that is stressing the beluga and other ocean life. The traditional hunters cannot hunt but it seems that industry has no problem on permits to incidental take, and to harass endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whales." John French PhD., Pegasus Environmental Solutions, Alaska, said, “Between March 2010 and July 2011, 438 dead bottlenose dolphins have been found stranded in the area of the BP Deepwater Horizon event. This compares to an average of104.7 for normal years. Also from January to July 2011, 85 of these were premature, stillborn, or neonatal bottlenose dolphins as compared to only 12.5 for the average of normal years. These calves would have been fetuses during the oil release and response. The cause of this Unusual Mortality Event is still listed as unknown. We should not ignore the possibility that these marine mammals deaths were caused by the spilled oil, or by spill response activities. We should not proceed with oil and gas development activities in critical habitat areas for protected marine mammal species until we know for certain this UME was not caused by these activities.”   Escopeta Company is rushing oil and gas activity by pushing a jack –up Spartan 151 drill rig into critical Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Habitat for a "Cash Prize" from the State of Alaska with little or no Federal or State oversight, especially considering the State of Alaska recently dumped the Alaska Coastal Management Program. Oil spill contingency plans are thus questioned in Cook Inlet, and in the Arctic Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Alaska's Big Village Network, Center for Water Advocacy, Cook Inlet Tribes, hunters, fisher peoples, and citizens are concerned about the critical habitat and actual recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in Escopeta’s rush for oil and gas activity. Questions of profound concern linger over the decline of Cook Inlet eulachon fishes since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These fish are one of the major food species for humans and Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. The Escopeta Company activity in Cook Inlet is significant oil and gas activity that warrants public participation and review. The drrilling is located in the middle of the Endangered Species Act listed endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whale migratory pathways. These pathways are critical to the recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whale habitat. Carl Wassailed Biologist of Alaska’s Big Village Network said, “Scientist have yet to determine Marine noise pollution impacts, like new drilling rigs, on young Cook Inlet Beluga Whales that frequent inland waters to escape natural predation by killer whales. And this time of year many belugas are foraging on multiple species of salmon as they migrate to spawning rivers and streams in Cook Inlet." Walt Parker, former Chairman of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Commission, said, “Lessons learned from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and the BP Deepwater Horizon should be implemented in oil spill contingency plans. There should be a public review of the oil spill contingency plans for Cook Inlet and the Beaufort and Chuckchi Seas,"  Harold Shepherd Water Policy Consultant said, “Until just recently it appeared National Marine Fisheries Service was the only governmental agency that was concerned about an oil spill blowout regarding the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales and suddenly we hear yesterday that Senator Begich and NOAA Director Dr. Lubchenko are meeting with the stakeholders of the oil and gas industry to streamline the permitting process. It sounds like NMFS has done an about face on oil spill contingency planning in Cook Inlet." "Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were done on our Beluga Whale hunters, even after 10 years of standing down on the harvest; why does Escopeta get to rush a drilling rig with NO updated Environmental Impact Statement, and no notification to Tribal governments or Tribal communities? This action clearly and disproportionately burdens the indigenous peoples of Cook Inlet whom have used and occupied the historic waters of Cook Inlet for customary and traditional hunting, fishing and gathering, commerce and navigation since time immemorial." The adverse cumulative impacts, risk assessments and oil spill contingency plans are inadequate for Cook Inlet, an Historical Bay. There is national and international interest in following federal in protecting invaluable natural resources.  Nikos Pastos, Center for Water Advocacy, said Federal Agencies have an obligation to implement federal acts such as NEPA, MMPA, ESA, and Executive Order 13175 on government to government Consultation, and Executive Order 12898 Environmental Justice and President Obama’s Executive Order 13366 Section 1B Committee on Ocean Policy which states, “to facilitate , as appropriate, coordination and consultation regarding ocean related matters among the Federal, State, Tribal governments, the private sector , foreign governments and international organizations." Contact: Nikos Pastos Board Treasurer Center for Water Advocacy, Homer Alaska http://www.centerforwateradvocacy.org/  907-764-2561 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            907-764-2561      end_of_the_skype_highlighting Carl Wassilie Biologist Alaska’s Big Village Network Anchorage, Alaska http://www.akbigvillagenetwork.blogspot.com/ 907-382-3403 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            907-382-3403      end_of_the_skype_highlighting FOOTNOTES: ESCOPETA notice requirements were supposed to have been provided to the Cook Inlet Villages and their Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council regarding the Spartan 151 Jack-up rig. This requirement is contained in the Alaska Coastal Management Programs' Escopeta North Cook Inlet (Offshore), Kitchen Prospect Exploration State ID N0, and AK2006-0201OG Final Consistency Determination which states on page 6: "2. Escopeta Oil & Gas Corporation will coordination with the Native Village of Tyrone, The Kenai Peninsula Borough Coastal Management Program, the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council (and others as per Escopeta's Plan of Operations) to ensure that Escopeta's activities avoid and minimize potential adverse impacts to Beluga whales; the availability of fish and wildlife for commercial and subsistence uses; as well as the quality of life for Alaskans. 3. Commercial, sport and subsistence interests stakeholders who have expressed interest during the company's outreach programs will be notified by Escopeta at least 48 hours before transport of the drilling vessel in Cook Inlet waters...." Beluga Whale Picture http://carinbondar.com/2010/12/baby-belugas-are-right-brained-just-like-me/  “Application of Best Available Technology & the Zero Discharge Standard to Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Development “      http://www.kbayconservation.org/”  Posted by brendanorrell@gmail.com at  8:01 AM

6/8/11

Nikos Pastos 
Environmental Sociologist
Alaska's Big Village Network
Alaska cell: 907-764-2561National cell: 406-459-1829

fax: 907-333-3009
e-mail:  nikospastos@hotmail.com
www.AkBigVillageNetwork.blogspot

4-12-11

From: smfields@uraniumwatch.org
Subject: [N3Yall] Uranium Mining in the West Today
To: "N3Yall "
Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 8:12 PM

9-15-10

Coal mine threatens Inlet setnetters


LAINE WELCH
FISHERIES

Published: 09/11/10 19:42:21

KODIAK -- A call is out for public comments on a request to extend exploration permits for what would be Alaska's largest coal mine. The permits would be for the Chuitna Coal Strip Mine, proposed for the west side of Upper Cook Inlet by Delaware-based PacRim Coal.
   
       The extension request is routine as the permits must be updated every two years, according to project director Dan Graham. He said comments should be sent to the state Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water by Sept. 24.
   
       But as of Friday, you wouldn't find the Chuitna coal mine project listed on the DNR site, nor was there mention of a comment period in the public notices section.

You can read the full story online at:

http://www.adn.com/2010/09/11/1449890/coal-mine-threatens-inlet-setnetters.html?story_link=email_msg

 

7-28-10

Hi Harold, If you think the Gulf of Mexico is a mess right now, imagine trying to clean oil from the rough waters of the Arctic. Big Oil's got their eye on Arctic waters, where an oil spill would wreak ecological havoc » Now that the well in the Gulf is quiet, public outcry may soften. But as soon as we look the other way, the oil giants will be ready to pounce on the Arctic. Not only are the Arctic seas home to a number of animals including endangered whales, the rough, deep waters would make a massive cleanup virtually impossible -- and we've learned the hard way there's no such thing as 100% safe drilling. Offshore drilling in the Arctic is a chance we can't afford to take. But with 600 lobbyists, Big Oil's got a tight grip on Washington. Tell Interior Secretary Ken Salazar not to compromise -- keep offshore drilling out of the Arctic! » Thanks for taking action! Kayla ThePetitionSite

Keep Offshore Drilling Out of the Arctic!

4-27-10

A proposed uranium mining process to be used in the southern Black Hills has opponents sounding the alarm about a potential loss of 2.86 billion gallons of water and polluted aquifers.
"The key thing here is that it will pollute the water," said Lilias Jones Jarding of the Clean Water Alliance.
On Sunday, members of the local grass-roots organization hosted an informational meeting at the Rapid City Public Library about Powertech USA, a Canadian subsidiary of Powertech Uranium, which plans to mine uranium northwest of Edgemont.
The company proposes to use in situ leach mining in the Dewey-Burdock area to extract the naturally occurring uranium from underground.
Jarding expressed concerns about environmental impact, types of mining, the process of extracting usable uranium, risk of exposure of radiation and health studies of uranium mining sites to about a dozen people who came to listen.
Contacted by telephone Sunday, Powertech project manager Mark Hollenbeck of Edgemont said his company has about 10,000 acres leased in the Dewey-Burdock areas -- about 13 miles northwest of Edgemont -- some scattered leases southeast of Edgemont, called the Plum Creek Project and some land near Aladdin, Wyo.
The company has drilled test holes but is not currently mining.
"We're still proceeding to obtain our licenses," Hollenbeck said
On April 8, Powertech officials met by phone with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials about the company's application for a license to handle nuclear material on the Dewey-Burdock site. The NRC has 30 days to reply with a written response on clarifications in Powertech's application for a Source Material License.
"We're working at glacial speeds," Hollenbeck said.
The company also has an application pending with the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a permit to inject chemically treated water into holes drilled into the ground in the Dewey-Burdock area to dissolve uranium underground. It will then pump the solution to the surface and collect the uranium for processing -- the in situ leach mining process.
"This mining process uses a lot of water," Jarding said at the meeting.
She said residents in the mining area are at risk. Nearly 3 billion gallons over the life of the mine will be siphoned from South Dakota aquifers and never used again because the chemicals leave it toxic, she said.
But this pressurized water also could drive the chemicals into the porous Inyan Kara aquifer, Jarding said, and vertical leaks could possibly affect 80 drinking water wells within 2 miles of the project.
Once polluted, water has never been restored to its original condition, she said.
"It's virtually impossible," Jarding said.
Carol Merwin of Rapid City attended the meeting and said she was concerned about the possible environmental hazards that may develop when mining for uranium.
"I can't imagine people would take the risk of our area resources of land and water," she said.
Dr. Rebecca Leas moved to South Dakota to escape a similar scenario in her native western Pennsylvania. She compared the Pennsylvania countryside to that of a nuclear holocaust.
As someone who works with health, wellness and disease prevention, she said she was surprised that more people were not at the meeting.
"People don't realize the ramifications of this sort of industry. This will take so many generations to rectify -- and all for a buck," she said.
Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.
 

4-7-10

Ross-Adams Mine on Prince of Wales.

U-Core and Rare Earth One held a "lunch and learn" event today(April 1).  You can listen to the audio here: http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/new/player.cfm?evid=XXXX100401A (April 1) about the development of the Ross Adams site on Prince of Wales.

Synopsis

Background:
This is a meet ant greet luncheon put on by U-core and Rare Earth One to accomplish 2 goals.  First is to get Alaska support for the Rare Earth Supply chain Technology and Response Transformation (RESTART) bill currently being debated in DC introduced by Mike Coffman (D-CO). This is a package of loan guarantees and a re-directing of funding from Dept of Defence, Energy and Commerce to create domestic sources of Rare Earth Elements (REE's). The second is to grease the wheels for possible Bokan Mountain development.

Argument:
Rare Earths are critical for new green technology and military applications.  China controls 97% of the supply.  China can control all new "green" technology and be a threat to our national defense.
Bokan Mt. is a unique deposit of the even more rare "heavy" rare earth elements. Proven deposit of 400 million pounds of REE's with much more likely.  It is easily accessible by shipping.  It is in an area that is a designated mineral prescription area (LUD) and in a state that offers little problems with permitting.  Bokan cold supply all the US military needs if all other sources where disrupted.

Mine specifics:
Short term-15,000 feet of core drilling planned for summer of 2010.  Most emphasis will be on determining recovery percentages of this ore.
Long term-Mine will be underground.  Mine will probably go in from both sides at or near sea level with ore being loaded both from the Kendrick Bay and on the other side (North Arm?). Mine will have a crusher and gravity separator, with ore loaded directly onto ships. There is a strict separation between the REE deposit and the uranium, so there will be little contamination with radioactive isotopes.  Ore might be shipped to Mountain Pass California for refining.  There was several questions from those in attendance about the possibility of building a refinery in Alaska.  When the size of such a facility was described there seemed to be some excitement for this possibility.

Weakness's:
The idea itself that a "green" car that uses over 100 lbs of REE's, or a wind turbine that may use 9 tons is ecologically responsible is unsustainable.  The only way to make a green car is with a bucket of paint.
That China controls the market is true enough, but it is because they flooded the market with cheap REEs to do so.  There are huge deposits in Australia (which China owns about 30% interest), Canada, and South America, as well as California.  Supply is only half of the supply and demand argument.  Almost all of China's REE exports go to the US.  We control that half of the equation.  New technology companies are unlikely to move to China because of lack of intellectual property guarantees there.

The geologist speaking blew off several questions about radioactivity very impatiently with answers like "everything is radioactive, your fingernails are radioactive.  I have been working in this field for 30 years and I am just fine".  Technically true, there are many types of radioactive emissions.  Most are harmless Alpha particles, however uranium, radon and the breakdown products are Gamma particle emitters.  Very dangerous. I am pretty sure he was not working when he was under 10 and his bones and thyroid were very susceptible to ionizing particles.  I am willing to bet he was not pregnant.  They state there is a sharp delineation between the uranium deposit and the REE's, I do not think this claim will hold up under any kind of investigation.

3-5-10

Joe Nuehof with the Colorado Environmental Coalition is working on a Response to this LtE: on Shell's decision to pull out of it's Yampa water right application:

 http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/printed_letters_march_4_2010

U.S. economy needs oil shale

It was interesting to see that Shell has abandoned the water rights application for their oil shale project in Rio Blanco County. Shell cited many factors, including the global recession and regulatory uncertainty. Fortunately, they are continuing their investment into this massive resource. Unfortunately, many industries are leaving Colorado and the United States, citing regulatory uncertainty. The regulatory and political environment often just makes it too risky for them to do business here.

America remains highly dependent on foreign oil and extremely vulnerable to oil price spikes and supply disruptions. The fact is that America does not produce enough domestic oil to insulate ourselves from global economic and political forces. In their 2010 Outlook, the Energy Information Administration predicted that world oil consumption will rise significantly by 2035, despite major investments in renewables. In addition, the EIA predicts that the price of oil will climb to $224 per barrel by 2035. Along the way, we will see increasingly wild fluctuations in oil and gas prices, like what we saw in 2008.

This kind of price instability is highly detrimental to the U.S. economy. In fact, some economists believe that energy price spikes, such as what we saw in mid-2008, actually cause recessions. Four of the past five recessions were preceded by energy price spikes.

Part of the solution could be oil shale. A reasonably sized oil shale industry in the United States could help insulate the U.S. economy from worldwide instability. Continued research is essential. Let’s see if we can balance water use and oil shale production. We’re on the cusp of commercial viability.

Most of all, our elected officials need to establish a fair playing field in energy, not favoring one source over another. The dynamic U.S. economy needs all the energy we can get.

CURTIS MOORE

From: Verner Nunamta <nunamtaverner@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Subject: endangered belugas spotted in Iniskin Bay! TAKE ACTION by TOMORROW COB!
To: Bristol Bay Working Group <bbwg@lists.onenw.org>


Please forward far and wide (below and attached flyer with map of proposed port), and write comments!  Alaska Miner's Association already submitted comments to NOAA saying that Iniskin Bay should not be designated as critical habitat for endangered belugas because Pebble needs to build a port there in Cook Inlet (email I sent yesterday), but belugas are there and hopefully this will help stop Pebble's port from being built!

Videos of Endangered Cook Inlet Belugas spotted in Iniskin Bay, where Pebble Mine may need to build a deepwater port to unload its materials, and perhaps dump waste into it from a road and pipeline at Williamsport.  Watch spotted belugas at http://www.youtube.com/user/NunamtaVerner Comments to support critical habitat designation for cook inlet belugas DUE tomorrow MARCH 3!  Help Stop Pebble Mine, go to http://www.inletkeeper.org/watershedWatch/beluga.htm to take action!  There are only 321 unique Cook Inlet belugas left according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research, you could mention in your comments: that the Pebble Mine should not endanger these animals' critical habitat and ability to survive.  Before the project goes forward, Pebble should extensively research and provide risk analysis on how their activities could affect the beluga whales, including  possible ship strikes from increased shipping in the bay, increased marine noise pollution that could affect beluga's underwater hearing, potential spills and wreckage from shipping accidents, potential dumping of waste from ships/road/pipeline, and damage of habitat from port infrastructure.  If there are any potential impacts, Pebble should not be able to go forward with any of its activities in this critical area!  Videos provided by Cook Inlet Keeper http://www.inletkeeper.org/watershedWatch/beluga.htm

--
Verner Wilson III
Outreach Coordinator
Nunamta Aulukestai 'Caretakers of Our Lands'
907-360-8591
NunamtaVerner@gmail.com

SAVE SALMON AND BEALUGA ACTION ALERT
 

10/16/09

http://blog.skytruth.org/2009/10/timor-sea-drilling-spill-3rd-relief.html
--

Ugh, back to the ongoing Montara / West Atlas oil spill. Looks like the third time's not the charm in the Timor Sea, where the latest attempt to get this massive spill under control has failed. Oil and natural gas have been spewing into the ocean and air off Western Australia for 58 days. The Montara oil platform -- and the West Atlas drill rig that was working there when the blowout occurred on August 21 -- are still at high risk for fire and explosion, and cannot be approached.

This is now being reported as the worst oil spill in Australia since offshore drilling began there 40 years ago.

So far we've seen no reports detailing what actually went wrong during drilling that caused a previously-completed well on the Montara platform to blow out. The Norwegian company that operates the West Atlas rig, Seadrill, is also currently working in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on complex, ultra-deepwater drilling projects. Seadrill is a major global offshore drilling contractor, with a fleet of 42 drill rigs. They've got an office in Houston, Texas, and have identified the Gulf of Mexico as a targeted area of operation for the company.

At this point we've seen no evidence that a Montara-type drilling accident couldn't happen anywhere, including in US waters. The public deserves a comprehensive and independent analysis of the Montara failure, once the well has been plugged and the platform can be re-occupied.

--
Posted By John to SkyTruth at 10/18/2009 03:23:00 PM
 

9/14/09

It's now Day 54 of the ongoing Montara oil spill off Western Australia, and the second attempt to intercept the damaged well and shut it down has failed. The next try should happen over the weekend. Third time's the charm - we hope.

At this point, using PTTEP's estimate of 400 barrels of oil spilled per day, at least 900 thousand gallons have been spilled into the Timor Sea since the blowout occurred on August 21. Using our estimate of 3,000 barrels per day, based on the known flow rates of nearby wells, nearly 7 million gallons have been spilled so far.

--
Posted By John to SkyTruth at 10/14/2009 11:00:00 AM

9/4/09

We got a full-resolution satellite image from NASA, did our own
processing, and realized the slicks on August 30 extended even farther
to the northeast than we had thought. It's now clear that the slicks
and sheen extended across 2500 square miles on August 30. We hope to
get more imagery in coming days/weeks.

Can anyone come up with a good analagy for 2500 square miles? ("That's
the size of...")

Read about it here -- http://blog.skytruth.org/

--
John Amos
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
phone: 304-260-8886
skype: skytruth.amos
 

New images of this spill now in our gallery, taken by a radar satellite
on August 28, 29 and 30:

http://blog.skytruth.org/2009/09/timor-sea-drilling-spill-more-images.html

--
John Amos
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
phone: 304-260-8886
skype: skytruth.amos
 

9/2/09

Skytruth has started a Flickr gallery with air photos, satellite images and
maps of the ongoing spill off Western Australia:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skytruth/sets/72157622226354812/
 

8/31/09

I have worked on a number of mining issues throughout my life. I grew up breathing the dust of coal at a terminal in Seward and watched Exxon's oil wash ashore with the Death Water in 1989.
>
>
>
> Alaska's Big Village Network is the primary organizing tool that has worked with a number of organizations nationally and internationally to better include and involve indigenous peoples of Alaska.
>
>
>
> * With Alaska Action Center, we stopped a large-scale gold mine in Cook Inlet, near Hope in a salmon stream. Now Alaska's Big Village Network is working with Alaska Inter-Tribal Council and Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes on resisting the Chuitna Coal project (300M tons).
>
>
> * In collaborations with the Center for Water Advocacy and the Native Village of Elim, Alaska's Big Village Network is working to resist Uranium mining in Norton Sound.
>
> * Alaska's Big Village Network and Alaska Inter-Tribal Council are working with the Bering Sea Elders Council and soverign Yupik Nation leaders to resist Gold mining on the Kuskowkwim and Nushagak watersheds (Donlin and Pebble Mines)
>
>
> *Currently working with Native Village of Point Hope regarding the 4Trillion ton coal deposit in their traditional hunting and fishing grounds. The last industrial port plan was the 'safe' use of a nuclear bomb to access these energy resources.
>
>
>
>
> Regarding oil and gas, I was a co-founder of Resisting Environmental Devestation of Indigenous Lands, which is collaborating with various national and international organizations to end destructive oil and gas activities in traditional homelands of various indigenous Nations in the North.
>
>
>
>
> There are many mining projects that are slated for development as the Arctic Ocean warms up. Most are all in indigenous territories where traditional culture and FOOD is from the land, water and air. All federal and state processes in 'rural' Alaska are not designed to protect or mitigate damages to traditional cultures or even communities of human beings. Unfortunately, many of the mining companies are misinforming people, distrupting Tribal Governments and maniupulating information that is untruthful and misleading about the impacts of mining.
>
>
>
>
> In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, heavily lobbied by the Alaska Mining Association created Alaska State-chartered Native Corporations that have been working for the mining companies to develop subsurface resources. Many people, organizations and media outlets consider the Native Corporations as Tribes, yet the Tribal Governments or Indigenous Peoples never once had a vote on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and are precluded in any government process that affects traditional subsistence culture.
>
>
>
>
> Due to my families traditional fish camp being under threat by Barrick Gold's Donlin Creek prospect in between the Yukon and Kuskokwim River, I am focusing my energies on making sure the people get adequate information and that the governments actions don't destroy 20,000 Yupik lives for a short term economic boost (promises of 500 jobs). I will be working with various Tribal Governments and Elders Councils to oppose the permits of the mine and am currently starting a grassroots campaign for those of us born after 1971 (ANCSA).
>
>
>
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
>
>
> carl wassilie
>
> Alaska's Big Village Network
 

8/27/09

A nice image, for a change. This shows a gorgeous phytoplankton bloom
in the Barents Sea. There are also links to several other beautiful
images like this, free to download and pop into a powerpoint
presentation, that are great for showing folks the Arctic is bursting
with life and is a critically important part of the web of life on
Earth. Enjoy - John Amos - Skytruth

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=39891
 

Judy Heilman of Beluga, Alaska"The cost to Alaskans couldn't be higher"The Chuitna River.Photo: Damion Brook KintzJudy and Lawrence Heilman live 45 miles west of Alaska's largest city Anchorage, across Cook Inlet in the small community of Beluga, population 32. Beluga, and neighboring Tyonek, population 199, are off the road system -- the only way to reach these communities is by small airplane or boat.A coal strip mine proposed over local objectionDespite overwhelming local opposition, PacRim Coal and its wealthy Texas investors Richard D. Bass, Herbert Hunt, and the Hunt Trust are pursuing development of the Chuitna coal strip mine less than 10 miles from Beluga and Tyonek. The 12 mile coal transport conveyor and accompanying infrastructure would run within a few hundred yards of the residential subdivision in Beluga, inundating the small community with coal dust and the constant clamor of industrial equipment.A dangerous precedent for salmonStrip mining is inherently destructive and current plans submitted by PacRim call for the direct mining of 11 miles of a salmon-bearing tributary to the Chuitna River. This would be the first large mine in Alaska permitted to directly mine a salmon stream, a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications. Additional adjacent leases held by PacRim, along with adjacent and nearby coal leases held by Barrick Gold Company, combine for 60 square miles of threatened wildlife habitat straddling the Chuitna River. "We're trying to protect our homes, our lifestyles, and the fish and game resources that we depend on. The vast majority of the residents of Beluga and Tyonek oppose a coal strip mine; it will destroy our way of life. We depend on intact habitats for clean water, healthy salmon, and the important hunting and subsistence opportunities that sustain us."
-- Judy Heilman
The Heilmans have chosen to retire here, where Lawrence worked for the local electric company's natural gas power plant for 27 years. Lawrence bought property here in 1976 and hand-built the log home he and Judy live in today. This relatively undisturbed area hosts a variety of wildlife including moose, brown and black bears, wolves, beaver, mink, martin, and wolverine. Through the heart of this Alaskan wilderness flows the Chuitna River, one of northern Cook Inlet's most productive salmon rivers supporting all five wild pacific salmon species -- king, chums, silvers, pinks, and reds -- in addition to trout and steelhead.The ecosystem that feeds local communities would be destroyedThe local communities rely heavily on the health of this intact ecosystem to support their lifestyles. Tyonek is a Dena'ina Indian village where to this day they practice a subsistence lifestyle harvesting local foods. Rural Alaskan communities commonly harvest up to 35% of their daily caloric requirements, 60% of which is fish. Subsistence users tend to harvest in traditional use areas near their villages, in this case right where PacRim Coal wants to strip coal from the river's watershed -- destroying the delicate balance that sustains this healthy, intact environment.PacRim plans call for building a 2 mile long transport trestle and accompanying bulkhead island into the turbulent waters of Cook Inlet for loading oceangoing coal ships. The most likely markets for Chuitna Coal are Asian coal-fired power plants. Terry Jorgensen is a commercial set-net fisherman who fishes for wild Alaskan salmon just north of the Chuitna River; PacRim plans to store up to 500,000 metric tons of uncovered, unscreened coal just above Terry's fishing site. The coal transport trestle will require a gravel island to be built directly on top of existing salmon set net lease sites, fundamentally destroying these commercial fishing sites and permanently altering salmon and beluga whale migration patterns.How is this a good deal for Alaskans?The Chuitna has been named one of America's most endangered rivers. "If this coal mine is developed, the profits will go to the outside investors and the coal will go to Asian coal burning power plants. In return, we'll get fish habitat destruction, coal dust in our homes, mercury in our fish, and the heightened effects of global warming. How is this a good deal for Alaskans?"
-- Terry Jorgensen, commercial fishermanWhile the State of Alaska continues to shepherd this project forward, efforts to slow and extend the timeline have been successful thanks to the efforts of the Heilmans, Terry Jorgensen, and others who formed the Chuitna Citizens NO-COALition; the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement is now expected to be released in the first quarter of 2009.The cost to Alaskans couldn't be higher. Aside from devastating thousands of acres of prime fish, moose, and bear habitat just to feed the growing energy demands of booming Asian economies, this project would result in millions of tons of CO2 emissions while Alaskans are already suffering the disproportional effects of global climate change. Essentially this project will exchange the clean renewable resources that support and feed these communities for a short-term dirty, destructive resource that threatens to destroy the healthy environment, intact ecosystem and the very quality of life that make this area so special.Thanks to Dennis Gann of Cook Inletkeeper
for interviewing the Heilmans for this Community Voice.
 

8/24/09

More bad news on this 20 anniversary of the Exxon Valdez Disaster: 

8/11/09

 7/31/09

7/30/09

7/29/09 

The latest in Senator Begich’s draft Arctic bills, this dealing with shipping, icebreakers and etc.  is attached for your review.

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO BILL

There are two bills outstanding, on Arctic Adaptation issues and OCS revenue sharing.

7/27/09

7/24/09

Recent numbers to keep in your back pocket when addressing the economic value of the fisheries in the region affected by O&G development…

For the 20th year in a row, Dutch Harbor has remained the nation's top fishing port, NOAA Fisheries announced yesterday. The annual report on U.S. Fisheries for 2008 shows that fishermen delivered 612.7 million pounds of fish and shellfish at Dutch last year mostly pollock. That's a drop from nearly 780 million pounds in 2007. Kodiak dropped from fourth to fifth place for seafood landings, behind ports in Virginia and Louisiana. In terms of value New Bedford, Mass. claimed the top spot for the 9th year running, topping $241 million at the docks, mostly due to pricey scallops. Dutch Harbor ranked second at $195 million and Kodiak held on to 3rd place with landings valued at nearly $100 million. Other Alaska ports making the top 10 for landing values were Naknek/King Salmon and Cordova.

In all, U.S. fishermen landed 8.3 billion pounds of seafood last year, down 11%. The value increased 5% to $192 million. The average price paid to U.S. fishermen for their catches was 53 cents, compared to 45 cents in 2007. The price for fish increased by 57%; and 8% for shellfish.

The report shows Americans ate slightly less seafood last year at 16 pounds per person, down from 16.3. NOAA Fisheries didn't give a top 10 list of favorites for last year, but shrimp clearly remained #1.

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/index.html.

Alfred Lee "Bubba" Cook Jr.

Senior Fisheries Officer Kamchatka/Bering Sea Ecoregion

World Wildlife Fund, Bering Sea Field Office

406 G Street, Suite 303

Anchorage, AK  99501

Tel: 907-279-5504

Fax: 907-279-5509

Cell: 202-446-8348

www.worldwildlife.org

 7/23/09

As you know Senator Begich plans to introduce a  series of bills soon dealing with various arctic issues. Attached for your consideration are drafts of four of these bills dealing with Arctic Science, health, oil spills and an Arctic Ambassador.  You already have the most recent RCAC.  Still pending are bills on Arctic OCS revenue sharing, Shipping, and adaptation.  I will share those with you when they are available, hopefully soon.

We welcome your comments on these bills.  Please send then to me at this address by early next week if possible.  Or call if you have any questions 202-224-0319. 

Thanks for your help,

Bob King

Legislative Assistant

United States Senator Mark Begich

Arctic Embassador

Arctic Health

Arctic Oil Spills

Arctic Science

6/23/09

Fairbanks man pursues nuclear power plant near Ester
> SMALL SCALE: Modules would be about the size of a hot tub.
>
> The Associated Press
>
> Published: 06/20/09 19:04:10
>
> FAIRBANKS -- A Fairbanks man is trying to bring nuclear-powered electricity to the area.
>
> John Reeves, a special assistant to the state transportation commissioner, hopes to build a small nuclear power generation facility in Ester south of Fairbanks.
>
> Reeves owns a 4-acre site near the Parks Highway. He hopes to invest in a small-scale, self-contained reactor designed to be buried underground.
>
> You can read the full story online at:
>
> http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/838182.html?story_link=email_msg
 

FYI
Here is some background on the Alaska Mine Permitting Process, from the Renewable Resources Coalition. Remember there are up to 20 active industrial mines,and/or other Permits in ramping up besides the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay.

Subject: Emailing: The Alaska Mine Permitting Process
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:36:47 -0800
 

6/22/09

There was a major oil spill two weeks ago in Norway. Please see the update from WWF’s office in Norway.

Harold

Update on the “Full City“ oil spill in Norway:

·         It is estimated that around 200 tons of oil was spilt

·         The oil has spread to 3 counties - Vestfold, Telemark and Aust-Agder, from Grimstad in the vest, to vest of Larviksfjorden in the east

·         The full extent of the spill and affected areas will be presented on Friday 14^th. At least 150 spill sites have been registered, and close to 40 nature protected areas have been affected

·         The salvage operation is in full progress and is being undertaken by Smit Salvage AS. So far 820 tons of oil emulsion (oil mixed with water) has been removed from the wreck, and it is estimated that the remainder of the process will take about 1 week

·         Collected wastes from the beaches and from the sea so far estimated  at 106 tons of oiled wastes and 217 tons of oil emulsion (oil mixed with water). Veolia Miljo is handling the waste treatment, and will provide updated figures of how much the wastes represent in actual oil

·         WWFs Clean coast! oil spill response team is working every day with about 20 volunteers daily so far. From Thursday we are hoping to have as many as 50 people at work every day! WWFs volunteers have collected more than 25 tons of oil and oiled wastes by hand so far!!

·         The Norwegian Coastal Administration, the local municipalities, and the government consider the WWF team to be one of the crucial elements of the clean-up operation, and have asked us to contribute with as much manpower as we can. All WWF volunteers and WWF employees are being paid for this work

·         34 species of birds have been affected, and over 1 500 oiled birds have been observed in the field (the total number probably higher)

·         WWF has contributed substantially to oiled birds now being rehabilitated (rather than shot), and as a member of The Norwegian Oiled Wildlife Response Network (NOW) leading the organization and coordination of the response.

·         Useful links:

o   See video from the site

o   Pictures taken from airplane- and helicopter surveillance

• Oil spill recovery - MV “Full City”

o   Norwegian Oiled Wildlife Network

A great thanks to all of you who have contributed so far in this process.

Please contact me if you have any questions!

Best regards,

Nina

Nina Jensen

Head of the Conservation Department/Fung. leder naturvernavdelingen

WWF-Norway

P. O. Box 6784 – St. Olavs plass

0130 Oslo

Street address:

Kr. Augusts gate 7a

0164 Oslo

Tel: +47 22 03 65 00 Mobile: +47 99 16 96 94

Fax: +47 22 20 06 66 E-mail: njensen@wwf.no

WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature