Sponsor: Bill to protect spawning grounds dead
Story last updated at 3/9/2010 - 1:17 pm
The Associated Press
JUNEAU – The sponsor of a wastewater discharge bill intended to protect fish spawning grounds from mine waste says his bill is dead.
Rep. Paul Seaton, a Republican from Homer and commercial fisherman, says the bill would create a modest protection for fish against effects of mining. Opponents have cited legal and regulatory concerns.
The House’s special committee on fisheries voted 4-3 to table the bill Tuesday. Seaton says this effectively kills it.
Rep. Craig Johnson, an Anchorage Republican, initially called on his colleagues to have the “fortitude” to vote it up or down directly. He then made the motion to table.
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March 9th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Good try for a Republican.
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March 9th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
WHat about Bill Thomas, isn’t he fishery committee? How did the rest of the board vote, JE?
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Murkowskis’ friends’ commercial jetboats on the Chilkat reds spawning all summer! Yea!
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
What the heck is going on here? Mining operations are not even local businesses. So we have outsiders influencing the protection of our fisheries? This is not the direction I want to see our state go in.
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March 9th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Would any mine not require a NPDES Permit regardless of other considerations?
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March 10th, 2010 at 3:24 am
kaily…….we have outsiders influencing most things in this state so don’t be too surprised.
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