Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

November 12, 2014 Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the SAA News. Hopefully you exercised your fundamental right to vote this month. No matter your affiliation, it’s important to participate. While a few of the results from Alaska are yet to be finalized, we’ll see how they will impact Alaska conservation efforts in the coming years. As for Alaska conservation news…The public comment period on EPA’s proposed commonsense restrictions on mining the Pebble deposit in the Bristol Bay region closed on September 19. Thanks to everyone who took action! Now we will await a decision from EPA on whether or not they will finalize their proposed restrictions, which (if they do proceed) possibly won’t happen until sometime in early 2015. There is also some news about the proposed Susitna Dam and some happenings in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. You can always check the Latest News page for a comprehensive collection of updates on issues of interest to anglers and hunters and the Last Frontier.

Bristol Bay: Massive Support Shown – Again – for EPA to Protect Bristol Bay!

Credit: Steffan Jones

The official comment period on EPA’s Clean Water Act section 404c Proposed Determination ended on September 19, and the results are again impressive. See a press release from Trout Unlimited that highlights the tremendous number of Alaskans that participated in the comment period. SitNews reports that the different groups in the Pebble Mine campaign are saying that over 625,000 Americans stood up for Bristol Bay during the recently concluded EPA public comment period.

Bristol Bay: Pebble’s Lawsuits against the EPA

SitNews and the Alaska Dispatch News report on the dismissal of a lawsuit in U.S. District Court by the Pebble Limited Partnership (and supported by the State of Alaska) that sought to stop EPA’s work to potentially use the Clean Water Act to protect Bristol Bay. KTVA television also provided coverage.
The Alaska Journal of Commerce reports on legal strategies being pursued in two lawsuits by the proponents of the Pebble Mine against the U.S. EPA.
Legal Newsline has an in-depth look at a lawsuit by the Pebble Limited Partnership accusing the EPA of colluding with opponents of the proposed Pebble Mine.
The Pebble Limited Partnership has filed its third lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeking to stop the EPA from its work to protect Bristol Bay, according to the Alaska Dispatch News.

Bristol Bay: Alaska Voters Approve Ballot Measure 4

The Hill reports on the success of Ballot Measure 4 in Alaska which will now require that the state legislature approve any large mining project in the Bristol Bay watershed. The measure passed with 65% of the vote. Think Progress and the Alaska Dispatch News also covered the result.

Tongass Tidbits – News from America’s Largest National Forest

Credit: Scott Hed

America’s Salmon Forest did a three-part series on the growth industries of maritime, seafood, and tourism should drive decisions on management of the Tongass National Forest instead of the timber industry that once reigned over the region’s economy.
The Juneau Empire editorialized on the need to promote and pursue a sustainable timber industry in the Tongass National Forest instead of continuing to target the remaining old-growth areas.
Alaska Public News reports on a study that indicates that logging of second-growth timber in the Tongass National Forest could begin immediately and be fully operational in roughly 5 years – much sooner than the timeframe being pursued by the U.S. Forest Service.

Miscellany: Other Stuff Around Alaska

The Autumn 2014 issue of Fly Rod & Reel magazine includes a conservation feature by Ted Williams on the controversy over transboundary mines on the British Columbia side of the Southeast Alaska border.
The British Columbia minister of energy and mines was in Alaska to discuss the Mount Polley tailings dam mine disaster and attempt to address concerns that Alaska has over Transboundary mining impacts, per the Alaska Dispatch News.
The Alaska Dispatch News tells of the State of Alaska’s “angry” defense of criticism from the National Marine Fisheries Service over what NMFS characterized as “flawed” science in studies of fishery impacts from the proposed Susitna Dam hydroelectric project.
The Alaska Journal of Commerce reports on the efforts of federal agencies and the public at large to weigh in on fishery studies related to the proposed Susitna Dam hydroelectric project.

Alaska Video Vault

Watch rainbow trout gobbling salmon roe and flesh from a fish cleaning station here.
Topwater action with a mousing montage from Alaska FlyOut.
In Alaska’s biggest city, check out Baby Salmon Live Here.
Underwater footage of hundreds of silver salmon migrating on the Alaska Peninsula.

Other Ways to Support SAA and the Fight for Fishing and Hunting in Alaska

SAA is grateful for the generous support of individuals, businesses, and foundations. Your donations allow SAA to continue to work on efforts to protect prime fishing and hunting habitats in the Last Frontier for the benefit of current and future sportsmen and women. Make your donations online at the secure online donation page; all amounts are accepted and appreciated – SAA is a lean, mean, one-man operation but it takes funding to do this work. For donations of the following amounts, please include “SAA” and indicate what item you’d like to receive in the “comment” box on the donation page.

BONUS: All donations of $50 or more will receive a copy of Equilibrium on DVD by Castaway Films!

$20 Waypoints DVD from Confluence Films ($30 value) or No Pebble Mine trucker hat or No Pebble Mine red sockeye design t-shirt ($30 value and only 25 in stock) or Aquafly box ($20 value)
$60 BEST Deal…Get all four $20 items (DVD, hat, t-shirt, fly box) – specify t-shirt size!
$125 4-in-1 Alaska or Fab Four - Alaskan September giclee print by Derek DeYoung (13” x 19”) ($120 value)


$20 – DVD	$20 – Trucker Hat	$20 – Sockeye T-shirt	$20 – Aquafly Box

DeYoung 4 in 1
$125 - “4-in-1 Alaska” by Derek DeYoung

$125 - “Fab Four – Alaskan September” by Derek DeYoung

(If you have any questions on how to donate, e-mail scott@sportsmansalliance4ak.org.)

Do You Shop on Amazon.com? Help Alaska Conservation – Easy and Free!!!

SAA’s parent organization – the Alaska Conservation Foundation – is now an official recipient organization of Amazon Donations.

It’s super easy to make a donation and doesn’t cost you a thing!

Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your total purchases to ACF.

Thanks for caring about Alaska conservation. Your support and actions will ensure a future for Alaska’s fish and game and for coming generations of sportsmen and women to enjoy them.

Sincerely,

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

Scott Hed named Angler of the Year by Fly Rod & Reel
SAA Director Scott Hed was recently recognized by Fly Rod & Reel magazine as their 2014 Angler of the Year.
See Scott’s response to this tremendous honor on the SAA home page, and read the article here.