Members of the Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board had strong words Thursday evening for the state’s plan to revise mixing zone standards in state waters.
“There is no reason to change something that has worked well for 40 years other than to accommodate some polluter or group of polluters,” board member Richard Hahn said.
Hahn was just getting started. He said he would like to ask Governor Murkowski’s administration why the changes are being proposed when pollution in Alaska waterways could cripple the state’s salmon industry.
“What in the hell are you people thinking about when you might risk your wild salmon label for Alaska?” Hahn said. “I have some very strong words for that.”
Hahn didn’t elaborate on what words he’d choose, but a fellow board member — under his breath — filled in an appropriate expletive.
The board — which is tasked with advising Alaska State Parks on Kenai River issues — agreed unanimously to send a letter to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation opposing the changes, which were announced last year and again revised in October.
Under current law, mixing zones — areas where waste can be discharged into waterways — are not allowed in freshwater streams where salmon are known to spawn. According to the proposed changes, mixing zones could be allowed if the entity making the discharge followed strict guidelines and got permission from either the Department of Natural Re-sources or the Department of Fish and Game.
The state has said mixing zones should be allowed in limited circumstances to accomodate unique circumstances, and that if done properly, allowing them would not adversely impact fish populations. One such situation commonly pointed to is in Valdez, where salmon began spawning in an area only after a commercial operator began discharging contaminated water.
But KRSMA board members said there simply should be no dumping in salmon streams and that the old guidelines have helped keep Alaska’s salmon populations free of toxic chemicals that are prevalent in many other fish around the world.
Opposition to allowing even limited dumping in freshwater streams is one that seemed to unite the board, which includes members from the public, local government officials, property owners, commercial fishing guides and commercial fishermen.
“It’s stupid. It’s suicidal,” said Joe Connors, a Kenai River fishing guide.
“It’s contrary to all sustainable fisheries policy,” said Paul Shadura, a commercial fisherman.
“There’s nothing about the concept we can support,” said Ted Wellman, an Anchorage attorney.
Public comment on the proposed changes will be taken by DEC through Dec. 19. Anyone who commented on the state’s previous plan must resubmit comments on the most recent revisions because previous comments will not be considered for the current revisions. Public hearings on the proposed changes will be held in Juneau on Nov. 30, in Fairbanks on Dec. 1 and in Anchorage on Dec. 5 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Dec. 1 meeting will be a statewide teleconference.
For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Web site, located on the web at www.state.ak.us/dec
