LETTERS
An awkward introduction Sequester sounds like bad name for a boy. Meet my Uncle Sequester. But I guess if your parents are “Fiscal Cliff” and “Abyss” it’s not surprising.
- Aileen Holthaus, Anchorage
Privatizing Alaska waters Legislation currently moving through the Alaska Legislature, which would eliminate existing rights of Tribal Governments and other Alaskans to apply for instream flow water rights, is the latest tactic in Governor Parnell’s ongoing campaign to quickly and quietly privatize Alaska’s water resources. In potential violation of the Alaska Water Use Code, for example, the state already routinely processes water use applications for mining, oil and gas uses, while placing on the back burner simultaneously or previously filed applications to keep water instream. Similarly, the Division often allows the energy industry to take water without even filing an application. Senate Bill 26 takes this already dysfunctional water right permitting process a giant step further. In addition to the prohibition on instream flow applications the bill contains numerous attacks on the rights of citizens to protect Alaska’s water rights. These include limits on public comment or appeals when the State issues water right permits, but only for the majority of individuals and entities that would be impacted by the water taken out of stream, and eliminating restrictions on transferring water rights and increasing the amount of water that can be obtained without applying for a permit. SB 26, which was introduced by Governor Parnell after he noticed that some of the recent instream flow applications were annoying the resource extraction industry, represents the failure of the state to recognize certain individual rights protected by the Alaska State Constitution. This includes Article VIII, which expressly states that water appropriations shall not have precedence over “general [public] uses for fish and wildlife.” The good news is that opposition to the bill has slowed its progress, and the Senate Resources Committee will likely hold more hearings on it this week. We still have a chance, therefore, to urge the legislature not to strip away the rights of citizens and tribes and to keep water in our streams for healthy for healthy fish and wildlife habitat. - Hal Shepherd, is the director of the Center for Water Advocacy in Seward
We Want You (to write for the Press) The Anchorage Press is looking for a few good freelancers to contribute stories on the topics of health, business, outdoor activities, the arts and local metal bands. Successful applicants should be witty, intelligent individuals who are easy to work with, always hit their deadline and can write broadly interesting stories free of grammatical and spelling errors. Freelancers interested in working with us should send story pitches on the topics mentioned above, a few writing clips and a resume to editor@ anchoragepress.com.
We love to get letters Wherever possible, we preserve “voices,” but letters may be edited for length, clarity, and taste. Submissions should be signed, along with the writer’s city or town and state, and a phone number (for confirmation only).
Win Tickets! DELIVERED EVERY THURSDAY
February 14 - February 20, 2013
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