In-State Natural Gas Pipeline Seeks to Temporarily Use Denali Borough Lands
November 2, 2011
Reprinted from the September-October Denali Citizens Council News (with links to more information):
The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) discussed their Alaska Stand-Alone Pipeline (ASAP) plans for the Denali Borough at a Planning Commission meeting September 20th. AGDC hopes to begin geotechnical studies to “evaluate the feasibility” of burying the natural gas pipeline on Borough-owned lands southeast of the Nenana Canyon. To do so, they have applied for a “Temporary Land-Use Permit” to drill two, seventy-foot-deep boreholes. These boreholes would be used to help AGDC determine how, or whether, they could bury the proposed pipeline in this area. Permit documents were available for review at the meeting, and the Planning Commission passed a resolution of support. The Mayor approves the permit, as use of the land is less than one year. A statewide right-of-way (ROW) application was approved in August, the first in a series of permits that will be necessary for the project. While much of this ROW uses existing state highway and railroad corridors (and is mandated by founding legislation to try to do so), the pipeline detours away from the Parks Highway to avoid a seven-mile stretch of the highway that passes through Denali National Park. This bypass of the park travels through Borough land before connecting with the Willow-Healy Intertie ROW (a major energy transmission line), and then rejoining the highway around Carlo Creek. AGDC will work separately with private property owners, Native Corporations, Borough governments, etc. to establish easements traveling through private property.
Sep-Oct 2011 DCC News
October 31, 2011
Redistricting map showing proposed Denali Borough districts in Ordinance 11-18
The Draft Vehicle Management Plan and EIS tops the news in out latest edition of DCC News. Other features include Denali Borough redistricting, Eva Creek’s impact on birds and wildlife, and Underground Coal Gasification.
Attend the Denali Borough Candidate Forum
October 31, 2011
Be sure to attend the Denali Borough Candidate Forum.
Hosted by the Tri-Valley Community Library
M0derated By Tri-Valley High School Government Class
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 @ 6:00pm
6:00 – 6:40 School Board candidates (Lorrie Terry, Amber Renshaw, Elizabeth Hooge)
6:50 – 7:20 Borough Assembly candidates (Gordon Carlson, Vickie Lausen, Rusty Lasell)
7:30 – 8:10 Borough Mayoral candidates (John Winklmann, David Talerico)
State of Alaska moves to strike part of DCC’s appeal of Healy Basin Gas Exploration Finding
September 26, 2011
On September 7, 2011, the State of Alaska moved to eliminate one of the arguments in our initial appeal, filed on August 26, 2011, of the Healy Basin Gas Exploration Final Best Interest Finding. Our attorney, Peter Van Tuyn, filed an opposition to the motion on September 20, 2011. The judge will rule on the state’s motion soon, and after his ruling, the State of Alaska will have 20 days to file its opening brief.
Further delays and legal wranglings could occur. When all parties have completed their briefs and motions, the judge will then consider the arguments and make his decision. The review and final decision could take several months.
To read copies of the state’s motion to strike and DCC’s opposition, click the links below.
State of Alaska’s motion to strike one of DCC’s arguments in our Brief
DCC’s opposition to the State of Alaska’s motion to strike part of our initial brief
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already contributed to our effort. We need additional contributions to our Gas Fund. Please visit our Healy Basin Gas webpage to learn more and to make a contribution.
Jul-Aug 2011 DCC News
August 31, 2011
DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan (center) speaks to attendees at meeting with DCC
Read DCC’s initial reaction to the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan. Also in this edition DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan meets with DCC to discuss Healy gas exploration, Jane Bryant has a new book, and our newest board member talks about the Vehicle Management Plan.
Eva Creek Wind Farm Permitting Phase Blows Through
August 22, 2011
The Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) released four separate land-use permits associated with the Eva Creek Wind Farm, proposed for ridges east of Ferry. Of the Eva Creek permits applied for by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), two are associated with road use and development (over approximately 16 miles), one covers material sites and extraction (eight material sites to extract 309,730 cubic yards of gravel), and a fourth covers the land use required for the turbines themselves and associated infrastructure development (including 42,869 acres). In addition to structures planned for state land, a rail siding yard and warm storage building are planned for private land at the base of Ferry Rd.
A fifth land use permit, applied for by Brice, Inc., would grant up to fifteen acres for a construction staging site “adjacent to the Ferry Road, approximately one and one-half miles east of the Alaska Railroad.”
Wind, gas and coal updates at GVEA Healy Meeting
August 22, 2011
Printed in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — Golden Valley Electric Association plans to offer a public update on new wind, natural gas and coal power options on Aug. 25 in Healy.
GVEA President Brian Newton will offer a presentation on the Eva Creek wind project, new plans for trucking liquefied natural gas and the Healy Clean Coal plant at a noon luncheon of the Denali Chamber of Commerce at the 49th State Brewing Co., 248.5 Mile Parks Highway.
At 6 p.m., GVEA will conduct a separate public meeting about the Eva Creek project at the Tri-Valley Community Center.
From: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – GVEA plans Healy meeting
The Fairbanks News-Miner has published a flurry of opinions regarding the Healy Coal Plant, which have encouraged a flurry of online conversation. Read more
May-June DCC News highlights Annual Meeting, Vehicle Management, Wolf Census, Redistricting, Trash pickup on Stampede Road
July 1, 2011
Our May-June 2011 Newsletter, now at press, provides an eclectic mix of articles.
A cover article on our recent Annual Meeting provides pictures and a recap of this popular event.
“A New Vehicle Management Plan for Denali – will it be better?” by Nancy Bale, provides some history behind the move to change how buses and other vehicles are allocated in Denali Park. The EIS for this plan is expected any day.
“Board of Game considers allowing motorized Hunting in the Yanert,” by Anne Beaulaurier, reviews the recent proposal before the Alaska Board of Game to add a late season motorized hunt and details the local opposition.
“Gas Bullet Line Skirting Denali NP would be largest project on Continent,” by Cass Ray, discusses this mammoth effort that remains at the planning stages, for now.
Other interesting articles appear, on the massive changes to the Denali area’s voting district, the Parks Highway interpretive plan, the Stampede Road Cleanup, and more.
For an online version of the newsletter, click the link below.
May-June 2011 DCC News
DCC and NPCA support the FRAC Act – mandating disclosure of fracking chemicals
June 1, 2011
The FRAC Act, just re-introduced in Congress, would mandate disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, and would repeal the 2005 exclusion of fracking from provisions of the Clean Water Act. To read more about why the FRAC Act deserves YOUR support, visit the American Rivers site here.
Waters within Denali National Park could be affected by gas drilling in the Stampede Townships under a recently granted exploration license. Because of potential threats in Denali and other parks, the National Parks Conservation Association recently sent Congress a letter of support for the FRAC Act. To read the letter NPCA sent to Congress, click below.
NPCA Letter Supporting FRAC Act
Friends of Yanert seek to retain non-motorized hunt
May 25, 2011
A group of concerned citizens has submitted a proposal to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game arguing to retain the Yanert Controlled Use Area. This special area, where only non-motorized hunting is allowed, has been in place for decades and includes the entire valley of the Yanert River, east of Denali National Park. A recent proposal by the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee sought to open the Yanert to motorized hunting after September 30th every year. The Friends of Yanert proposal lists several reasons why such a change would reduce the quality of the resource and probably would not solve any problems, either. The proposal will not be considered until March 2012. To read the proposal, click the link below.
Friends of the Yanert proposal to Retain Non-Motorized Area
DEC Permits Herbicide Spraying in Healy Railyard
May 14, 2011
This permit began with a 2006 effort by the Alaska Railroad to spray a suite of herbicides on their entire track, and has ended with a permit for one herbicide and a carrier for railyards in Healy, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Public comment DID make a different, despite the ultimate outcome, in reducing the scale and scope of this operation. To read the final decision and summary of comments, click below.
ARRC 2011 Herbicide Permit Decision Document
Mar-April DCC News focuses on Denali’s gateway issues
April 20, 2011
Our cover article highlights the work of the Denali Borough Planning Commission, with some examples of the challenges faced by this young borough. Other articles include:
- Thank you for Not Fracking - Molly McKinley, DCC Gas Organizer, discusses her work in the borough to educate and advocate around a recently issued gas exploration license on lands next to Denali Park.
- More on Eva Creek Wind Farm, one of the largest projects proposed for the state to generate power from wind, and located near Healy, by Cass Ray.
- Information on a Climate Change Research Project being conducted in the Denali Region, by Erica Watson.
- A description of her Juneau experience by local student Emily Brease, whom DCC sent to Juneau for the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Civics Summit.
And much more……
Mar-Apr 2011 DCC News