Author: Robert Woolsey

The cruise industry says Alaska's new wastewater discharge permit sets standards that are unattainable. In a news release, the Alaska Cruise Association claims that the DEC's first Large Commercial Passenger Vessel Wastewater General Permit imposes limits on some trace metals so stringent that not even Alaska's land-based wastewater facilities can meet them. An excerpt from an address to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce (on 3-26-08) by Don Habeger, vice president of Royal Carribean Cruises

Alaska Cruise Initiative co-sponsor Gershon Cohen says major polluters must be compelled to clean up their acts. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has given the industry two years to meet discharge permit standards. Cohen says Alaska voters recognized in 2006 that major industry rarely develops cleaner technologies without regulatory pressure.

Close to 100 Sitkans gathered Sunday afternoon for the annual Blessing of the Fleet. The spring ritual honors those who earn their living upon the seas and pays tribute to mariners who have died over the past year.

After lengthy testimony and deliberation Thursday night (3-27-08), the Sitka assembly granted Dove Island lodge a conditional use permit for 8 guests, possibly bringing an end to a multi-year dispute over the lodge’s reportedly unregulated growth. The lodge – and its legal counsel – did not take the restriction lying down.

Eighteen-year-old Jason Abbot was arraigned in Sitka Superior Court Wednesday morning, March 26, on four counts of first-degree murder, and one count of attempted murder in the first degree, following a homicidal rampage in his family's home on Tuesday.

Sitka wilderness manager Mary Emerick chairs the Forest Service's national Wilderness Advisory Group. She speaks with KCAW's Robert Woolsey about how forest users can help ensure that wilderness continues to serve the purposes it is intended for.

The city of Sitka is dropping its objections to proposed Sealaska land selections – for now. The Sitka assembly last night (Tue 3-25-08) failed to pass a resolution opposing three of the regional Native corporation’s selections on the grounds that Sealaska has made a good faith effort to choose less controversial sites.

A humpback whale became entangled in a herring seine during test fishing Tuesday morning (3-25-08) in Sitka. The vessel's skipper notified ADF&G, who notified NMFS, who dispatched local whale biologist Jan Straley to the rescue.

The Department of Fish & Game says it will continue to test-fish for herring – and to hold commercial seine openings, if necessary -- in an area of Sitka Sound considered critical for subsistence. The decision was made over the objection of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. The herring sac-roe fishery is now on two-hour notice. At a meeting of permit holders, processors, and tribal officials this morning (Mon 3-24-08), ADF&G management biologist Dave Gordon said he had no plans to abandon test fishing, and no authority to close an area.