Northern Waters Task Force panel named

On Aug. 23 Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Mike Chenault announced the names of people appointed to serve on the Northern Waters Task Force.

In March the Alaska Legislature passed a resolution mandating the formation of the task force, to assess and facilitate the creation of a joint state and federal entity for the coordination of U.S. and Alaska interests in the opening of Arctic waters, as Arctic sea ice recedes.

“I believe we all recognize the strategic and security importance of Arctic waters, and the need to provide comprehensive support and infrastructure should new (Arctic offshore) development take place,” said Chenault. “The task force … allows us to bring in regional leaders from all aspects of government to work with residents, businesses and interests in the region to give all areas a voice and stake in state and federal policy moving forward.”

“I am very pleased with the choices we have made for this task force, which will help us establish a federal/state policy group that will define government policy toward development in our Arctic waters,” said Stevens. “I am comfortable that we have appointed a good cross section of legislators, local officials, and others whose constituencies are directly dependent on the Arctic.”

The appointees are: Senators Bert Stedman and Lyman Hoffman, with Donald Olson as alternate; Representatives Reggie Joule and Bob Herron, with Bryce Edgmon as alternate; North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta; Unalaska City Manager Chris Hladick; Nome Mayor Denise Michaels; Nana Corp. Vice President Chuck Green; Alaska Marine Conservation Council Chair Dave Kubiak; and Larry Hartig, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, with Governor’s Office Fisheries Policy Advisor Cora Campbell as alternate from the state administration. The federal member of the task force has yet to be announced.

—Alan Bailey