Coastal zone measure clears hurdle

Efforts to get an initiative establishing a coastal management program on next year’s ballot can proceed.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell certified the initiative application Dec. 6. The initiative committee now must gather 25,875 signatures to get it on the ballot. Juneau’s mayor and an initiative backer, Bruce Botelho, has said the goal is to have 27,000 signatures collected before Jan. 17, the start of the legislative session.

A Facebook page dedicated to organizing has been established.

Supporters say they want to revive Alaska’s coastal management program and will take the issue to the people if the Legislature doesn’t act.

The program letting states put conditions on certain activities on federal lands and waters ended June 30 after failed attempts by lawmakers to save it.

—Associated Press