Unalaska, AK – Unalaska's city council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night in support of the 5-year oil and gas leasing program for the North Aleutian Basin Outer Continental Shelf. The program would allow oil companies to buy leases in the area in both 2011 and 2014 to explore and drill for oil and liquid natural gas. The resolution passed by the city says the program must include the mitigation measures put forth by the Aleutians East Borough that aim to protect the local fisheries and habitats. They also require the government to include baseline studies of the area. The resolution says that Lease Sale 214 will not alter or divert traditional fishing practices. Keith Colbern, who has fished in the region for 25 years, strongly disagrees.
Unalaska, AK – The City's Planning and Zoning Commission voted down the permit to build an emergency housing shelter in downtown Unalaska last week. About 50 people attended the meeting to comment on the proposal to build the Alexandria House on the site of the old Elbow Room. Almost all of the 23 impassioned testifiers said that Unalaska needs an emergency shelter for men, however most of them felt that it should be built at a different location.
Unalaska, AK – Friday the National Transportation Safety Board opened to the public documents about the 2008 Alaska Ranger sinking. Included in the more than 6,800 pages are a factual report about the events of the March 23, 2008 accident, vessel inspection documents, diagrams drawn by survivors, and many others. These were used to develop a draft report on the incident which killed 5 of the 47 people on the Alaska Ranger. The draft report will not be released to the public and is currently under review by the board. It will be discussed during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on or around September 30. During that session, the board will vote on the probable cause of the accident and on the findings and conclusions of the report. They will also make recommendations for improving safety and preventing similar accidents. The documents were released as part of standard protocol to allow the public to review them before the hearing.
Unalaska, AK – An occasional Unalaska resident died on Friday while working on a tramper. Forty-eight year old Aurelio Lozano was throwing boxes on the tramper Jauca with North Star stevedoring when he allegedly fell. The cause of death is unknown but 1st Sgt. Matt Betzen says there are no obvious signs of trauma and no signs of foul play. When EMTs reached him he needed CPR. He was then taken by tug to land then to the clinic where he passed away around 4 pm on Friday. His next-of-kin, who live in Mexico, have been notified and his body was sent to the medical examiner's office in Anchorage for further investigation.
Unalaska, AK – The Aleutians Islands Risk Assessment Team will be holding their first full meeting here in Unalaska next week. The three-day session will give the public a chance to hear an overview of the project and to give input. Risk assessment facilitation team member Leslie Pearson says the project is not just about the perspectives of those directly involved with the vessels that pass through the area and the risks they face. Vessel accidents and spills also impact the people who deal with the aftermath community members, land managers, and others.
Unalaska, AK – Unalaska hosted a House Energy Committee meeting Wednesday evening. As the committee sought input on a new energy policy for the state, they heard that sometimes alternative energy isn't the best alternative at all. KUCB's Anne Hillman reports.
Unalaska, AK – The City Council met for a short meeting last night during which they decided to fund a public reception for the upcoming Museums Alaska/Alaska Historical Society 2009 Annual Conference and not to fund a book project. The Museum of the Aleutians is hosting a conference in mid-September for over 200 historians, museum professionals, and volunteers. The council will spend about $4,400 for a community reception to all the visitors to meet community members and learn more about Unalaska. Mayor Shirley Marquardt says it's a good way to let people know more about our community. Though the council elected to fund one public relations event, they chose not to fund another.
Unalaska, AK – Harbor Crown Seafoods is being sued by three different companies for not paying their bills. Horizon Lines is suing the processing company for $174,000 plus lawyers' fees because they did not pay bills from February 14 to June 7, 2009. Coastal Transportation is suing the company for over $5,700 for unpaid bills. Both of these cases are awaiting action in federal courts.
In the Alaska court system, the F/V Tempo Sea sued the company for more than $203,000 for not paying for a delivery of opilio crabs on April 3. According to court documents retrieved by reporter Wesley Loy, a lawyer for Harbor Crown, John Munding, said the company is insolvent and will be closing its doors. Because Harbor Crown did not respond to the suit, the judge awarded the money to the Tempo Sea.
Unalaska, AK – Unalaska will host a formal legislative hearing this week for the House Energy Committee. The group of legislators will be taking public comments on House Bills 218 and 219 as well as listening to community members' comments on energy issues, innovations, and challenges in our area.
House Bill 218 would create a department of energy for the state. Our region's representative, Bryce Edgmon, says that it would consolidate all of the different divisions that deal with energy and energy conservation into one administrative group.
