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Alaska: Tariffs on wild Alaska salmon lifted By MARY KAUFFMAN - Officials are encouraged by the United States Trade Representative’s removal of Alaska salmon from the list of goods subject to new tariffs between the U.S. and China. Salmon filets now join Alaskan cod and pollock in having potential tariffs lifted.

Alaska exports more than one million metric tons of seafood each year, adding more than three billion dollars of foreign money into the U.S. economy. Some of that exported seafood, including salmon, is initially processed domestically, then sent to China for secondary processing to maintain competitive pricing, before re-importation to the U.S. Subjecting wild Alaska salmon to foreign tariffs as it returns to the United States would create serious negative financial consequences for the seafood industry, Alaska’s largest private-sector employer. The Alaska seafood industry directly employs 57,000 people.

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Governor Bill Walker both welcomed the recent decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to remove proposed tariffs on Alaska salmon from a list of approximately $200 billion worth of additional tariffs on Chinese imports.

The change comes following months of engagement by Senator Sullivan and his staff to protect hardworking Alaskan fisherman and to educate the administration on the unintended impacts of this proposal.  Sullivan is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

“I commend Ambassador Lighthizer and the Trump administration for listening to our concerns, for taking thoughtful guidance and input, and for making this important change for Alaska’s seafood industry and the more than 60,000 jobs it contributes to our economy,” said Senator Sullivan. “While I am supportive of the administration’s broader efforts to address China’s unfair and non-reciprocal trading practices, targeting an American product, harvested by Alaskan fishermen on American flagged vessels runs completely counter to the administration’s strategy regarding China. 

“The Alaska seafood industry is the lifeblood of our coastal communities, which is why my team and I engaged at every level to ensure these changes were made,” Sullivan said. “It’s a good first step, accounting for approximately $250 million worth of salmon imports caught primarily by Alaska fishermen. Without it, policies meant to counter China’s unfair trading practices would have actually harmed Alaskan workers and industries due to the fact that a portion of Alaskan seafood harvests go to China for limited reprocessing before being sold back to American companies and consumers, or elsewhere throughout the world.”

The USTR announcement came after advocacy from Governor Walker, industry partners, and Alaska’s Congressional delegation to protect access to some of the most important markets for Alaska’s fishermen. 

“We are very happy to see our efforts produce a win for Alaska, our economy, and our fishermen,” Governor Walker said. “With tariffs lifted on Alaska pollock, cod, and now salmon, we will continue to advocate for other important commercial species, particularly flatfish, to be removed from the tariff list. We are proud that Alaska’s exports, from seafood to oil, natural gas, and other natural resources, are part of the solution for our trade deficit with China. We want to keep growing that business, not limit it.”  - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018

Southeast Alaska: Commercial Fishers Sentenced to Jail Time For Willful Failure to Pay Taxes on Income; IRS Investigation Reveals Couple Prioritized Travel and Gambling over Taxpayer Obligations - A Southeast Alaskan couple were sentenced today in Juneau for willfully failing to pay their individual income taxes, and instead prioritized spending money on traveling and gambling. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder.

Archie W. Demmert III, 58, and Roseann L. Demmert, 61, both of Klawock, Alaska, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to each serve 12 months, plus one day, in federal prison on two counts of willful failure to pay income tax.

As part of their plea agreements, the Demmerts will pay restitution to the IRS for the calendar years charged covering 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Archie Demmert and Roseann Demmert both had commercial fishing permits for herring spawn on kelp, and Archie had an additional commercial fishing permit for a salmon purse seine. In May 2018, the Demmerts admitted in court that they earned income from commercial fishing for over a decade, from 2006 to 2014, but willfully chose not to pay over $300,000 in income taxes, excluding penalties and interest.

According to court documents, the Demmerts have a long history, dating back to at least 1994, of avoiding the majority of their taxpayer obligations. Even after the charges were filed in 2017, the Demmerts have not made any payments toward their taxes to the present day. Throughout the decades while the Demmerts have avoided collection of their taxes, they had the means to pay their taxes but they willfully chose not to do so. Instead, they spent their money on travel and gambling at casinos.

For example, in November 2012, Roseann Demmert cashed out over $20,000 from the Cache Creek Casino, but two days later told the IRS they could not make any tax payments. In 2012, the Demmerts took two trips to California wine country, spending thousands of dollars on their trips instead of paying their taxes.

In 2013, the Demmerts agreed to settle their tax liabilities by paying $80,000; but then, according to court documents, Archie Demmert withdrew $84,000 from their bank account and then told the IRS they had no ability to pay. Shortly after the cash withdrawals by Archie Demmert, the Demmerts were back gambling at casinos in Las Vegas and Washington, despite telling the IRS they had no way of paying their tax debt. - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018

Fish Factor: Crab Catches Dominate Fish News By LAINE WELCH - Crab catches dominate Alaska’s fish news in early October as boats gear up for mid-month openers in the Bering Sea. 

As expected, crabbers will see increased catches for snow crab after the annual survey showed a 60 percent boost in market sized males and nearly the same for females (only male crabs can be retained for sale).

Managers announced this week a catch of 27.5 million pounds of snow crab, up 47 percent from last season. Even better, biologists documented one of the largest numbers of small snow crab poised to enter the fishery they’ve ever seen.

Also as expected, the news is bad for bairdi Tanners, the larger cousins of snow crab. A take of just 2.4 million pounds, down two percent, will be allowed from the western fishing district of the Bering Sea, with the eastern district closed for the season. 

Crabbers breathed a sigh of relief to learn there will be a red king crab fishery at Bristol Bay with a catch of 4.3 million pounds, a 36 percent drop. Those stocks have been on a downward spiral for several years and talk on the docks was that there would likely not be a fishery this year. 

“It helps sustain king crab markets that might be lost if the season were closed,” reacted Jake Jacobsen, director of the Inter-Cooperative Exchange which represents the majority of Bering Sea crabbers.  

 There again will be no king crab openers at the Pribilofs and St. Matthew Island due to low stock numbers.  Similarly, a king crab fishery was canceled at Southeast Alaska where a small 120,000 pound red king crab fishery occurred last fall for the first time in six years.  - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018

The State of Alaska Division of Elections (DOE) reminds eligible Alaska voters to make sure they are registered to vote and their information is up to date in time for the upcoming November 6 General Election.

The deadline to register to vote or update registration is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 7. DOE regional offices will be open for voter registration on Saturday October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018

Alaska: Congress Passes Measure to Dramatically Restrict Major Source of PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water - Congress passed legislation Wednesday that will give commercial airports the option to switch to firefighting foams that do not include the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS.

The new provision was part of a larger legislative package to fund the Federal Aviation Administration and bolster disaster relief programs.  Firefighting foams made with PFAS chemicals are a significant and widespread source of drinking water contamination throughout the country.

Under current law, airports are required to use firefighting foams that contain these chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, kidney disease and other health problems.

“Firefighting foam is a significant source of PFAS contamination in drinking water throughout the country,” said EWG Legislative Attorney Melanie Benesh. “This legislation is a critical first step to allow airports to switch to the less toxic alternatives, which are already being used safely and effectively in other countries. We applaud Congress, especially Senators Sullivan, Thune, Peters, and Nelson, and Representatives Upton, Shuster, DeFazio and Kildee, for taking this important action to protect public health.”

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is taking action to regulate this class of fluorinated chemicals known as “PFAS,” which have been detected in drinking water in some communities in Alaska. DEC is proposing new cleanup levels for six PFAS in soil and groundwater, and is working with stakeholders on a statewide action plan for dealing with these chemicals and contamination from them. 

Although the information on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is limited, a growing body of research indicates the compounds have various levels of toxicity to human health and the environment.  Because of their chemical structure, PFAS chemicals can migrate to groundwater and do not break down easily. This means they can persist in the environment and the human body for years.  - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018

TOM PURCELL: Jokes Abound, But Political Divide No Laughing Matter - With all the vitriol in our politics - with all the disagreement that is tearing our country apart - we could all use some levity about now.

Here's one joke I think we can all agree with:

A man wearing a ski mask jumped into the path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun against his ribs.

"Give me your money," said the mugger.

"You can't do this," said the well-dressed man. "I'm a U.S. congressman!"

"In that case," said the mugger, "give me MY money!"

Being a parent is more challenging than ever. We live in a time when parents must censor C-SPAN! 

Which reminds me of the one about the father who used the never-ending shenanigans in Washington to teach his son an important lesson.

"Son, you should never steal, lie or cheat."

"Why, Dad?"

"Because the government hates competition!"

The U.S. Senate is agitating millions of Americans. The allegedly august body of distinguished minds is supposed to give thoughtful pause to our political process - but is giving us a Jerry Springer show instead.

That's why the words of legendary humorist Will Rogers are truer today than when he spoke them during the Great Depression:

"The Senate just sits and waits till they find out what the president wants, so they know how to vote against him." - More...
Friday PM - October 05, 2018