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Small stature, big personality
Oilers open final homestand of 2014
Pet Tails/A-14
Sports/A-8
CLARION
A few clouds 66/51 More weather on Page A-2
P E N I N S U L A
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 251
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
LNG group files for export permit
Question Do you agree with barbless hook catchand-release restrictions for Kenai River king salmon? n Yes n No To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com. Results and selected comments will be posted each Tuesday in the Clarion, and a new question will be asked. Suggested questions may be submitted online or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.
Consortium continues to secure property for Nikiski site
In the news
By TIM BRADNER Morris News Service-Alaska
TAPS moves 17 billionth barrel
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JUNEAU (AP) — The trans-Alaska pipeline has moved its 17 billionth barrel of oil. The operator of the 37-year-old pipeline, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., announced the milestone Monday. It has been nearly five years since the 16 billionth barrel flowed down the line, in October 2009. The 800-mile pipeline is the economic lifeblood of the state, which relies heavily on oil revenues to run. The pipeline runs from the prodigious North Slope to Valdez, from where tankers are shipped. Alyeska says the pipeline has generated about $180 billion in state revenue. Oil flowing through the line has been on a downward trend since reaching a peak of 2.1 million barrels a day in the late 1980s.
Sonar estimates Estimated late run kings in the Kenai River: n Sunday: 1,014 n So far: 6,472 Estimated Kenai River reds: n Sunday: 34,104 n So far: 433,206 Russian River reds weir count: n Sunday: 302 n So far: 1,710 Estimated Kasilof River reds: n Sunday: 9,762 n So far: 331,667
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-5 World..................... A-6 Sports.....................A-8 Classifieds........... A-10 Comics................. A-13 Pet Tails............... A-14 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.
Alaska Journal of Commerce
ough’s right-of-way and is not taking away frontage from any property owners. “We don’t want to impact you folks more than necessary,” Knackstedt said to property owners. One couple, Mike and Tina Lohry, is concerned about the proximity the widened road with will have with their 18-year-old
The consortium planning the big North Slope gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas export project has taken another big step. An application was filed Friday for the U.S. Department of Energy export permit for the project. North Slope producers, TransCanada Corp. and the state of Alaska asked for permission to export up to 20 million metric tons yearly of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, from Alaska, the group announced in a press release. Larry Persily, federal Alaska gas coordinator in the U.S. Department of the Interior, has reviewed the 212-page filing and said the consortium has purchased about half the property it needs for a large LNG plant at Nikiski, or about 200 acres. The filing application is for permission for exports over a period of 30 years to countries that have existing free trade agreements with the U.S., as well as to non-free trade agreement countries, according to the announcement, which was released Monday. “This is a significant milestone for the Alaska LNG project and demonstrates continued progress toward developing Alaska’s resources,” said Steve Butt, senior project manager. “Filing of an export application is a critical step in commercializing North Slope natural gas.” Butt said in an interview earlier that the project specifications of exporting 15 million to 18 million tons per year haven’t
See ROAD, page A-7
See GAS, page A-7
Ready for some football? Above, Adam Harper, 8, carries the ball upfield during a football scrimmage Monday at Soldotna High School. Harper, known as “Beast Mode” on the field, was one of nearly 50 participants at the Kenai Peninsula Youth Football Camp, led by Soldotna High football coach Galen Brantley. The camp, open to kids through eighth grade, runs through Wednesday. Left, Reagan Graves,9, carries the ball while Noah Harper, 10 attempts to pull his flag. Photos by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion
Some residents wary of road work North Kenai project to bring road up to borough standards By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
This construction season, Rhines, Fishermans and Capryl roads in North Kenai made it to the top of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s list for road improvements. However, property owners on Rhines Road are concerned about the current construction
and its potential impacts. Rhines Road resident George Kucinic said the project doesn’t make sense to anyone in the neighborhood. “I don’t think it will do anything better for us,” he said. “I think it will make it more miserable for us.” Henry Knackstedt, borough road services area engineer, met with about one dozen
Rhines Road residents in the sunshine Thursday to discuss the project, which will bring the road up to borough standards. That includes widening the road, shallow ditching on both sides and raising the road 1 foot. The project has been on the borough’s to-do list prior to 2011, he said. He said all the construction is being done within the bor-
Busy weekend sees JBER soldier attacked by bear increase in accidents By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
With the increase of motorists on land and water across the central Kenai Peninsula this weekend, first responders saw a steady rise in accidents. From Friday to Sunday, Alaska State Troopers responded to 11 motor vehicle accidents across the Kenai Peninsula, said trooper spokesperson Megan Peters. Central Emergency Services aided in five accidents with two people transported to Central Peninsula Hospital, said Health and Safety Officer Brad Nelson. Kenai Police Chief Gus Sandahl said his officers were dispatched to four accidents, including one on the
water and another involving an all-terrain vehicle. Another boat collision in front of The Pillars Boat Launch was referred to the Alaska State Parks, he said. None of the accidents resulted in any life-threatening injuries, Nelson said. On Sunday CES and Soldotna Police responded to a twocar collision at the Kalifornsky Beach Road and Sterling Highway intersection at about 1:30 p.m. Nelson said one person was transported to the hospital. Later in the day, another twovehicle accident at Mile 91.5 of the Sterling Highway involved a red sedan and van. One person was transported to the hospital, Nelson said. See BUSY, page A-7
By RACHEL D’ORO Associated Press
ANCHORAGE — An Alaska Army National Guard soldier was wearing a combat helmet and other protective gear when he was attacked by a bear while participating in a training exercise at a military base, officials said Monday. Sgt. Lucas Wendeborn of Valdez is being treated for puncture wounds and lacerations after the mauling Sunday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The female brown bear was defending her two young cubs, base officials said. Wendeborn’s injuries are not life-threatening, National Guard spokeswoman Maj. Candis Olmstead said. WenC
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deborn, 26, was not armed and had no ammunition. But he was well-shielded by the helmet, load-bearing equipment and a reflective safety vest with ammunition patches. “The gear that was over him, it probably had some impact on protecting him some,” Olmstead said. Wendeborn was participating in a navigation exercise that involves giving soldiers compasses and maps and timing them as they make their way alone to hidden locations on a course. In thick woods, Wendeborn moved around a tree and mere yards away the bear popped out of the brush. The two made eye contact. “It appeared that he and the
bear startled each other,” Olmstead said. The soldier immediately thought of a bear-safety briefing he had earlier that day and dropped to the ground. The bear attacked, picking him up by the hip and throwing him. The bear swatted and bit at him a few times before leaving him alone after about 30 seconds. The soldier waited between 15 and 30 seconds and then blew a safety whistle, alerting medics on the course, Olmstead said. The medics began to stabilize Wendeborn, who sustained puncture wounds in areas including under his left shoulder blade and right rib cage, as well as lacerations to See BEAR, page A-7