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P E N I N S U L A
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 47
Question Have you had or do you plan to get a flu shot? n Yes; or 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 emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.
In the news
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Alaska LNG Project OK’d to export Department of Energy approves shipping only to Free Trade Agreement countries By Molly Dischner Morris News Service - Alaska - For the Alaska Journal of Commerce
ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Department of Energy will allow the proposed Alaska LNG Project to export liquefied natural gas from the North Slope to free trade agreement countries, but the project is still waiting for permission to export to nonFTA countries. The primary market for Alaska LNG exports is the non-FTA countries, such as Japan, China and India, although a project could also send some LNG to South Korea, which is an FTA country. The export decision came
shortly after the Nov. 17 comment deadline for Alaska LNG’s application to export North Slope LNG. The project partners have asked to export 20 million metric tons of LNG per year for 30 years. The DOE received 27 comments during the submission period; of those, 22 were supportive of the proposed project, according to the federal coordinator’s office. BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, TransCanada Corp. and the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., a state entity, are partners in the Alaska LNG project, which includes an 800mile pipeline, an LNG plant at Nikiski, and a major gas processing plant on the North
Slope. The project began its pre-filing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September. Alaska’s congressional delegation applauded the approval Nov. 21. “This FTA license is good news for Alaska, but by law it had to be approved. The real test is the non-FTA license,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a formal statement. “I am watching the process carefully to ensure there are no unnecessary delays in approving exports to Japan and other non-FTA countries. I have said from the beginning that DOE should continue to consider Alaska gas exports on their own separate track — as
they always have.” Rep. Don Young agreed. “Restricting the ability to export LNG would effectively kill the dream of constructing a natural gas pipeline, something we Alaskans have worked on for years,” Young said in a formal statement. “Today’s announcement by the DOE is a positive step in the right direction and moves us closer to bringing our state’s tremendous resources to market. Not only would this project add much needed revenue to the state and provide well paying jobs, it could also provide the Alaskan people access to more affordable energy. As this process moves forward, I remain committed to ensuring
Study: World’s most acidic sea water in Bering Sea
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The world’s most acidic ocean waters are found during the cold winter months in the Bering Sea, according to a new study. Researchers at Columbia University released a series of maps tracking changes in global marine activity. The new maps, based on 40 years’ worth of measurements, show how acidity in marine waters around the globe changes with the seasons. The Bering Sea has shallow waters, a broad continental shelf and ocean currents that deposit nutrients from around the world. Those conditions make for wonderful fisheries, geochemist Taro Takahashi said. But the sea also receives large amounts of runoff from rivers, which dump carbonrich sediments and fresh water. And it’s partially enclosed by land, so acidic waters are more likely to become trapped. Together, the conditions make the Bering Sea ideal for acidity, especially in the winter months when low temperatures allow water to hold maximum carbon dioxide, Takahashi said. Summer blooms of plankton absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the water, dramatically raising pH levels temporarily every year. Then swelling up of carbonrich water from the ocean depths in winter help lower pH levels in that season, scientists say. The Antarctic waters also are vulnerable to acidification, but they are less acidic than the Bering Sea, which gets runoff waters and is almost enclosed where Alaska and Russia nearly touch.
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red-tape and federal roadblocks don’t stand in the way.” Sen. Mark Begich also noted that the project, if completed, could have a positive impact on the economy. “This is great news for Alaska’s economy and another step forward for a project that will create thousands of Alaska jobs, keep heating and energy prices down, and boost state revenues,” Begich said in a formal statement. “Thanks to (Energy) Secretary Moniz for coming to Alaska with me this summer to hear from affected Alaskans firsthand – I hope for more good news soon and will keep pushing for a smooth permitting process in the future.”
Inupiat video game released MATT BUXTON Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The video games released in the lead-up to the holiday season have something for everyone. You’ll be able to steal a car on the fictional streets of Los Santos, go on quests with elves and dwarves by your side, or shoot up mercenaries in mountain villages. You can also play as an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her arctic fox sidekick traversing an endless blizzard on the tundras of Alaska, escaping hungry polar bears, navigating treacherous ice floes and exploring the traditional folklore Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion and stories of Alaska Native (left) Emma Mullet, blows the starting horn for Emma’s Run, a 5K race held on Saturday at the Kenai Visitors Center. communities. The game is “Never Alone” and it is a unique and first-ofits-kind venture. Developed hand-in-hand with the Alaska Native commuBy BEN BOETTGER in the Visitor Center’s parking Beach Elementary, described 65” nation-wide locations. nity, the game draws on the art, Peninsula Clarion lot at noon. Each participant herself as “more of a skier” Last year, Mullet received a traditions, stories and language paid a $10 entry fee, which than a runner, she created Em- mail pamphlet advertising the of the Iñupiat in a sincere and will be donated to the Memma’s Run to coincide with St. Give Thanks walk. She wanted Emma Mullet is the creator sensitive downloadable game. and organizer of Emma’s Run, phis, Tennessee-based non- Jude’s Give Thanks fundrais- to participate, but found that Never Alone is the proda 5-K race that was held Satur- profit Saint Jude’s Children ing walk, a nation-wide series all the locations were in the uct of the first Native AmeriHospital, a research and treat- of 5K races held the weekend lower 48. She contacted Johna day in Kenai. can games studio, Upper One ment organization for children before Thanksgiving. AccordBeech, director of the Kenai 42 runners, walkers, and Games, a joint venture of the ing to a St. Jude’s website, Visitor’s Center, about hosting joggers registered at the Kenai with cancer. Cook Inlet Tribal Council and Although Mullet, a 6th this year’s Give Thanks Walk a 5K event in Kenai. Visitor’s center, and took off E-Line Media. After more than See RUN, page A-10 from the start and finish line grade student at Kalifornsky included events held in “over two years of development and numerous trips to Alaska, Never Alone was released Tuesday. Game developer Sean Vesce said the project was pitched by Cook Inlet Tribal Council President and CEO Gloria O’Neill, and he said he and the other developers were enthralled by the opportunity to have a community involved in the development of such a game. “A lot of us experienced game developers are used to working in tubes with other game designers, and so this is really the first time where we had an opportunity to get out into other communities, underBy DAN BALMER stand the culture and bring our Peninsula Clarion experience to help further the community’s goals,” he said. Every year, after the sand It quickly became clear that settles from thousands of dipthe game would need to closely netters visiting Kenai for the involve the Alaska Native comlast three weeks of July, the munity if it was to get anywhere city reviews its management of close to meeting goals set by the massive fishery and evaluPhoto by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion the developers and the Cook ates improvements that can be In this July 14, 2014 file photo, people fishing with dipnets crowd near the Kenai City Docks as Inlet Tribal Council. made. they work to net some of the millions of sockeye that run on the Kenai River every year. The City of Kenai made several changes, including adding enforcement, during the 2014 season. See DIPNET, page A-10 See GAME, page A-2
Community runs for St. Jude’s
Kenai talks 2014 dipnetting season Data shows mostly Anchorage-area residents brought in $625,000 for city
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