Southeast Alaska: Fifty years ago, 26 died in the Granduc Avalanche By DAVE KIFFER - Fifty years ago, an unimaginable tragedy swept the twin mining towns of Hyder and Stewart, 70 miles east of Ketchikan, at the head of Portland Canal.

Remains of the famous Granduc Copper Mine which closed in the early 1980s, leaving millions of dollars of equipment buried in the mountains.
Photograph By Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD,
both are prolific contributors to Wikipedia Commons.
Image courtesy Wikipedia Commons

On February 18, 1965, an avalanche struck a camp at the Granduc Mine, killing 26 miners. Hundreds of rescue workers from both Canada and Alaska converged on the site, eventually managing to rescue nearly 100 other miners from the camp.

By 1964, much of the mining activity in Portland Canal had waned. Hyder and Stewart had been boom towns in the 1920s and 1930s as hundreds of miner flocked to area seeking gold, silver and copper. The Premier Mine on the Canadian side of the border had been one of the world’s richest gold mines before it finally played out in the 1950s.

Fish Factor: Sablefish pots lost in Prince William Sound after being run over by tugs By LAINE WELCH - A mile long string of 29 sablefish pots was lost last month in Prince William Sound after being run over by tugs towing barges at Knight Island Passage.

“It appears that some tug boats passed back and forth across where the gear was set, and now we have no idea where it is,” said Maria Wessel, a groundfish biologist at the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game office at Cordova.

The pots are part of an ongoing tagging study started in 2011 to track the movement of the Sound’s sablefish stock. It was intended to be the third test run for the project.

“We’re trying to see how well our population is mixed with the population in the wider Gulf of Alaska,” Wessel explained.

The state research vessel Pandalus has done several swipes of the grounds to no avail.

Both ends of the gear were anchored with 400 fathoms of buoy line with sets of three buoys each. Wessel called it “unusual” to lose a string of pots.

“It’s buoyed on both ends and unusual to lose both and not be able to retrieve it. But it does happen as witnessed by this event.”

Prince William Sound has an exclusive sablefish fishery that has been limited entry since 1996. Its 59 participants divide the annual 242,000 pound harvest using a shared quota system that is based on the vessel size and catch percentages of permit holders from 1991-1994.

Wessel said the lost string of gear poses no threat to navigation, but sablefish longliners could get snagged.

“There is a potential hazard of longline gear getting hung up on these lost pots and we want guys to be aware that is there.”

The missing gear poses no threat to the 53 shrimpers out on the grounds, she added.

“It’s highly unlikely. The sablefish pots were set in about 1,200 feet of water so it’s far deeper than someone targeting spot shrimp would be fishing,” Wessel said. - More...
Friday PM - April 17, 2015

Alaska: Walker - Mallott Admin Streamlines Adoption Process for Alaska Native Children - Governor Bill Walker (I) and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott (D) took significant steps Thursday to ease the adoption process of Alaska Native children to allow them to stay with relatives or tribal members.

Gov. Walker and Health and Social Services Commissioner Valerie Davidson look on as Lt. Governor Byron Mallott signs emergency regulations for the petition of adoption of children in state custody on Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Photo courtesy Office of the Gov.

Gov. Walker has filed legislation that will to allow for more flexibility in the adoption petition form. This will ensure that the preference for Native children to be adopted by Native families remains of utmost importance and will make tribal participation in adoption cases easier. The bill will be read across the floor of the House and Senate today.

“This is very important to me,” Governor Walker said. “What’s good for Alaska Native children is good for all children. What’s good for Alaska’s children is good for Alaska.”

Since the legislation will not be passed this year, Lt. Gov. Mallott on Wednesday signed the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) emergency regulations to go into immediate effect. The regulations make it easier for the children’s family members, tribal members and the Tribe to intervene in out-of-home foster placements. - More...
Friday PM - April 17, 2015

Alaska: Many Gasline Questions Go Unanswered as Governor Walker Vetoes House Bill 132 - Senate leaders on Thursday "respectfully" asked Governor Bill Walker (I) to address remaining questions about his plans for boosting the “back-up” plan for a large-diameter gasline before he vetoes House Bill 132 (HB132). Today with only two days left in the session, Governor Bill Walker today vetoed HB 132, making good on his March 2 promise when the bill was introduced.

“This veto in no way means the end of discussions with legislative leadership,” Governor Walker said. “We continue to have multiple meetings to ensure AKLNG is successful and remains the priority while maintaining access to a backup option.”

According to the Governor, HB 132 limits the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) from actively working on any gas line project other than the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (AKLNG) line. The State of Alaska is a partner in AKLNG along with TransCanada, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and BP.

“We cannot have legislation that ties Alaska’s hands while we are trying to negotiate the best possible gas line deal for Alaskans,” Governor Walker said. “This bill prevents the state from having an adequate backup plan should the AKLNG efforts not proceed.”

HB132 is designed to strengthen the state’s commitment to the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas project (“AKLNG”), created last year through Senate Bill 138 (SB138). According to Senate Majority Leaders, HB132 was introduced earlier this year after Governor Walker sent confusing signals about “upsizing” the back-up Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline (“ASAP”) project.

“Many familiar with both projects are concerned about the appearance of a competing project to AKLNG,” said Senate Majority Leader John Coghill (R-North Pole). “The legislature is trying to understand Governor Walker’s intentions, but it has been difficult. Meanwhile, we’ve received credible feedback from various groups. There are serious concerns because of the uncertain signals from the executive branch. Alaskans have limited time, and need to understand the costs, benefits, and value of our resource and his plans.” - More...
Friday PM - April 17, 2015