Convening of Legislative Session
Happy New Year! I am very excited to be welcoming the second session of the 27th Legislature. This will be my second year serving as the Majority Leader and I plan to continue working with the Majority Caucus on our shared direction for the next two years. I will be continuing to work on proactively engaging in conversations with my peers about the important impacts of declining oil on state’s fiscal future to ensure a sound and prosperous future for all Alaskans. Other key issues that I will work to keep at the forefront this year are access to affordable energy, responsible resource development, safe and healthy communities and excellent schools and workforce development.
Staffing for the 2012 Legislative Session
I am very excited to have an all-district staff this year. We have a very dynamic and strong team. Long time Kodiak resident, Erin Harrington will be returning as my Chief of Staff and continue as the Majority Aide and serve in a lead advisory and analytical role on natural resource and economic issues with special focus on fisheries and community development. She will be the primary contact for legislation. Also returning this year is Astrid Lievano. She will continue to be involved with constituent services and will be stepping into a new role this year helping with Majority Leader duties. Erin and Astrid have been working in the Kodiak office during interim and so they should be a familiar voice.
Joining us this year is Daisy West. Daisy joins our office as a legislative aide and will be the first point of contact for constituents and will provide research and administrative support to the team. She is a vibrant longtime Kodiakan and we are happy to welcome her to the team!
Constituent Services
Our office is always happy to hear from constituents. If you have a concern or would like to share your opinion on any new or pending legislation, please feel free to contact our office in Juneau during the 2012 Legislative Session. You can call us at 1-800-865-2487 or 1-907-465-2487. Our office hours while in Juneau are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. If you are going to be in Juneau during the 2012 Legislative Session, please contact us and we would be happy to schedule an appointment with you.
We received the following information from the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program. If you are in Kodiak this week, check it out!
Hello everyone!
Please join us and help spread the word! We encourage a robust conversation among our diverse community.
Ocean Acidification Roundtable Discussion
When: Thu, January 26, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (downtown across from Baranov museum)
Description: Alaska Marine Conservation Council and Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program are hosting a roundtable discussion on ocean acidification and Alaska ’s fisheries on Thursday, January 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center downtown. Please join us for a presentation by Dr. Robert Foy and discussion to help ensure that the perspectives, experiences and concerns of Alaska fishermen, marine industries and coastal residents are heard and understood as we work to address the impacts of ocean acidification in our waters and communities. Refreshments provided. For further information contact Rachel Donkersloot at 277-5362 or Julie Matweyou at 486-1514. The flier for the event is attached.
Thank you,
Julie
Julie Matweyou Assistant Professor / Kodiak Agent Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks phone: 907.486.1514 email: julie.matweyou@alaska.edu
We received the following information from CROWLEY. If you know anyone who might be interested in an internship in the Alaska Ocean Rangers Program, please pass on this information.
ALASKA OCEAN RANGERS – NOW HIRING!
Crowley Marine Services, Inc. and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are seeking qualified Alaskans to take part int he Alaska Ocean Ranger Program during the summer of 2012. Alaska Ocean Rangers are U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Marine Engineers or individuals with a degree in marine safety and environmental protection or equivalent degree approved by the Alaska DEC, who travel on cruise ships throughout the summer as independent observers monitoring State environmental and marine discharge requirements. They also check that passengers and crew are protected from improper sanitation, health, and safety practices. For more information visit: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/cruise_ships/ocean_ranger_info.html
Crowley Marine Services, Inc. is the contractor for the Alaska DEC.
To apply contact: Lester Williams, Manager, Marine Personnel, 9487 Regency Square Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32277, (907) 777-5900, lester.williams@crowley.com. Deadline to apply is 2/29/2012.
Position includes excellent monthly salary, benefits, and reimbursable expenses. For more info, visit: http://www.crowley.com/Careers/Working-at-Crowley.
We received the following information from the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. If you know anyone who might be interested in an internship please pass on the information.
APFC Internship Program
Each year, APFC and several of our external investment managers hire Alaska college students as summer interns. APFC actively promotes these opportunities to students attending school in Alaska. But it is harder to spread the word to Alaskans attending school out of state. Perhaps a word in your constituent newsletter will help us reach more students.
Recruitment for summer 2012 internships is underway. All program information can be found on our website: www.apfc.org. Should you or your constituents have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
Thank you for helping us spread the word!
Laura Achee
Director of Communications
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation
(907) 796-1522
www.apfc.org
This news comes to us from the people over at the Alaska Energy Authority. We encourage constituents from Kodiak and Lake & Pen to submit their contact information to provide proactive feedback concerning the Renewable Energy Fund. See contact information below.
The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) recently commissioned an independent evaluation of the Renewable Energy Fund grant recommendation program. The Vermont Energy Investment Company (VEIC) was selected via a competitive process for performing this evaluation and is assisted by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) in conducting both the research and reporting key findings and recommendations to AEA. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify ways to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the processes used in the program and their impact in Alaskan communities.
This evaluation will provide an opportunity for stakeholders in the program – including AEA staff, program advisors, rural organizations, legislators, energy advocates, participants and non-participants in the program – to provide thoughts and ideas concerning the Renewable Energy Fund and its effectiveness in achieving its goals. Between approximately January 20th and February 3rd, the VEIC team will contact stakeholders via email to participate in an online survey and a smaller subset of respondents for telephone and in-person interviews. The results of these interviews and surveys will provide important insights into the views of key stakeholders of the program and will be reviewed by the study team as part of the evaluation.
Thank you very much, in advance, for taking the time to share your feed-back and ideas with us. Although we anticipate developing a comprehensive list of stakeholders, please do not hesitate to send recommendations for specific stakeholders, including at least the name and affiliation for each of your suggestions via email to Julie Estey at julie.estey@alaska.edu. Suggestions received by Friday, January 27th, 2012 will be incorporated into our work moving forward. In the meanwhile, if you have any questions please feel free to call Chris Badger at 802-658-6060 Ext. 7765.
Sincerely,
Chris Badger, VEIC, Project Manager Julie Estey, ACEP, Stakeholder Outreach Lead Renewable Energy Fund Grant Recommendation Program Review Shawn M. Calfa Grants AdministratorAlaska Energy Authority 813 West Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska 99503 T (907) 771-3031 F (907) 771-3044 SCalfa@aidea.org
Commissioner Bryan Butcher, joined by Deputy Commissioner Bruce Tangeman, made a presentation to a lunchtime luncheon of Kodiak Chamber of Commerce members on Monday, January 9th. They talked about the Governor’s proposed oil tax changes and why the administration continues to feel that making changes to the existing tax structure is important. Deputy Commissioner Tangeman provided a copy of the presentation, which is posted here: January 9, 2011-Commissioner Butcher Presents to Kodiak Chamber of Commerce.
We received the following information from the Department of Natural Resources. To our knowledge, at least one oyster farming business has started operation in Kodiak.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2012
CONTACT:
Division of Mining, Land, and Water, Southcentral Region
John S. Thiede, Aquatic Farm Program Manager, 269-8543, john.thiede@alaska.gov
Aquatic Farm Application period is now open
(Anchorage, AK) – The Division of Mining, Land, and Water is now accepting aquatic farm lease applications for shellfish operations in state waters. The application period opened on January 1 and ends on April 30.
The division is now accepting applications on a yearly basis to increase economic opportunities for rural Alaskans. Previously, applications were accepted every other year. During the application period, existing farmers may apply for lease amendments.
An aquatic farm lease enables the recipient to use state waters to commercially farm Pacific oysters, mussels, littleneck clams, geoduck clams or other shellfish.
Applications and information can be viewed and/or downloaded from the division’s website at: http://www.dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/aquatic/index.htm.
For additional information or to set up a pre-application meeting, please contact John Thiede, Aquatic Farm Program Manager at 907-269-8543 or via email at john.thiede@alaska.gov.
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Many of you have expressed interest in the Kodiak Airport EIS project. We received an email in our office today with detailed and updated information where they’re at. We encourage you to navigate their website and consider signing up for updates.
__________Email update__________
Recent Kodiak Airport EIS project updates have been used to alert you to meetings or let you know what progress has been made since previous communications. I think we are now sufficiently advanced with our project planning and alternatives development to start using these updates to provide more in-depth information, especially concerning topics or issues of widespread interest. We have plenty of material with which to work, but don’t hesitate to let me know if you have suggestions for future updates.
FAA fielded a number of questions concerning runway use during our Runway Safety Area EIS meetings in November. For example, while most people are generally aware of the types of aircraft flying in and out of that airport, especially the commercial aircraft, there was widespread interest in learning which runways are the busiest and why. This project update should answer some of those questions. (more…)
With the 2012 Legislative Session on the horizon, Senator Gary Stevens and I will be hosting an Legislative Open House at the Kodiak LIO. We want to hear what’s on your mind about the issues facing our district and state this coming year. Please join us on Wednesday, December 21st at 4pm at the Kodiak LIO.
For more information, contact my office at 486-8872.
Many of you are interested in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ongoing Watershed Assessment process. We received an email in our office today with updated information where they’re at. Please have a look if you’re interested. You can navigate to their site or read the email we received by clicking on it below.
