Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Movi found in Alaska caribou, moose

A harmful pathogen previously known only in goats and sheep has been found in healthy Alaskan moose and caribou. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, commonly known as Movi,… Continue reading

 

The mountains form the backdrop for Kenai Lake, which is still partially frozen, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 seen from the bridge in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on Saturday cleaned up a small spill left over from a truck accident in February near the shore of the lake alongside the Sterling Highway. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

DEC cleans up small spill on Kenai Lake

State spill response workers cleaned up some contaminated soil on the shore of Kenai Lake left over from a truck accident in February. Alaska Department… Continue reading

 

Lawmakers look at potential penta problem

Editor's note: This story has been changed to add information about an error in the 2015 U.S Fish and Game ground contamination study near HEA… Continue reading

 

In this July 24, 2016 file photo, a guide boat motors upstream on the Kenai River near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Rashah McChesney, file)

River users question turbidity finding on Kenai

Editor's note: This article has been edited to clarify that the turbidity exceedances for the Kenai River were not contiguous but rather were spread throughout… Continue reading

In this July 24, 2016 file photo, a guide boat motors upstream on the Kenai River near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Rashah McChesney, file)
This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

State, feds to determine next steps after turbidity report

The state must now address the fact that excessive motor boat traffic in July has made a section of the lower Kenai River too muddy.… Continue reading

This map shades in red the 7.5 miles of the Kenai River upstream of the Warren Ames Bridge that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to classify as an impaired water body because of its high turbity, or levels of suspended sediment. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Gautoma Iwamura, a homeschool student through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Connections program, gathers trash on Sunday, June 4, 2017 on Augustine Island, Alaska. Iwamura was one of a group of students and adults who traveled with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to the remote island in Cook Inlet to gather marine debris from the beaches. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Volunteers clean beaches on remote Augustine Island

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the source of funding for the trip to Augustine Island. On Augustine Island, human footprints are… Continue reading

Gautoma Iwamura, a homeschool student through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Connections program, gathers trash on Sunday, June 4, 2017 on Augustine Island, Alaska. Iwamura was one of a group of students and adults who traveled with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to the remote island in Cook Inlet to gather marine debris from the beaches. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Workers respond to a spill of mixed crude oil and water near the Tesoro Refinery on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Nikiski, Alaska. The facility operator discovered the spill Dec. 18 and reported it to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The cause is still under investigation.

Cleanup underway on small oil spill at Tesoro

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the cause of a recent oil spill near the Tesoro Refinery in Nikiski. On Dec. 18, the… Continue reading

Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Workers respond to a spill of mixed crude oil and water near the Tesoro Refinery on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Nikiski, Alaska. The facility operator discovered the spill Dec. 18 and reported it to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The cause is still under investigation.
John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane from the church’s sanctuary on Monday, May 15 in Kenai. In the foreground stands the wooden cross that fell backward during the January 2016 Iniskin Earthquake, tearing the icon’s canvas. After planning and fundraising for the icon’s repair since mid-2016, the church shipped it to an art restorer on Monday.

Kenai Russian church sends icon for restoration

John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in… Continue reading

John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane from the church’s sanctuary on Monday, May 15 in Kenai. In the foreground stands the wooden cross that fell backward during the January 2016 Iniskin Earthquake, tearing the icon’s canvas. After planning and fundraising for the icon’s repair since mid-2016, the church shipped it to an art restorer on Monday.

Hilcorp’s Anna Platform restarted

Hilcorp’s Anna Platform has resumed work after having been shut down since a suspected oil release April 1. An Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)… Continue reading

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge intern Kyra Clark (left) and Kenai Watershed Forum Invasives Specialist Jennifer Peura bag clumps of elodea pulled out of Sport Lake’s boat launch area on Thursday, May 4 near Soldotna. Refuge and Watershed Forum staff pulled about 30 trashbags of the invasive waterweed from Sport Lake on Thursday and tentatively plan to begin treating it with herbicide on May 16. (Photo courtesy of John Morton/ Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Sport Lake elodea treatment could start May 16

A popular Soldotna-area lake infested with the invasive water-weed elodea may be getting its first dose of herbicide sooner than expected. The Alaska Department of… Continue reading

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge intern Kyra Clark (left) and Kenai Watershed Forum Invasives Specialist Jennifer Peura bag clumps of elodea pulled out of Sport Lake’s boat launch area on Thursday, May 4 near Soldotna. Refuge and Watershed Forum staff pulled about 30 trashbags of the invasive waterweed from Sport Lake on Thursday and tentatively plan to begin treating it with herbicide on May 16. (Photo courtesy of John Morton/ Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Permit may delay Sport Lake elodea killing

Elodea could be eliminated from Sport Lake near Soldotna before native vegetation emerges and before the summer crowd of pilots and boaters arrive, but only… Continue reading

Hilcorp to reduce flow in leaking gasline, halting production on two platforms

Editor's note: This story has been updated with an estimated future leak rate as a result of the pressure decrease. Hilcorp announced plans on Saturday… Continue reading

PacRim coal mine permitting suspension leaves some simmering debate

Although a plan to strip-mine coal from beneath the Chuitna River’s west Cook Inlet tributaries is done for the moment, elements of controversy may continue… Continue reading

This photo provided by Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, Inc. shows pan pan ice taken during an agency overflight near a Hilcorp Alaska LLC offshore platform in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Monday, April 3, 2017. Officials said an underwater pipeline spill between two production platforms owned by Hilcorp dumped less than three gallons (11 liters) of oil into Cook Inlet. (Derek Samora/CISPRI via AP)

Responders stand down from oil leak

Responders to an oil release from a Hilcorp crude oil pipeline on the west side of Upper Cook Inlet stood down at 9 a.m Monday… Continue reading

This photo provided by Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, Inc. shows pan pan ice taken during an agency overflight near a Hilcorp Alaska LLC offshore platform in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Monday, April 3, 2017. Officials said an underwater pipeline spill between two production platforms owned by Hilcorp dumped less than three gallons (11 liters) of oil into Cook Inlet. (Derek Samora/CISPRI via AP)

Hilcorp to monitor Cook Inlet gas leak

Hilcorp plans to observe the methane release from its leaking Cook Inlet pipeline by using sensor buoys to make weekly water quality samples and twice-monthly… Continue reading

DEC: Hilcorp must sample and monitor underwater gas leak

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is requiring Hilcorp Energy Company to begin sampling and environmental monitoring of its damaged underwater natural gas pipeline, which… Continue reading

Ice could delay Hilcorp leak response until late March

Hilcorp’s plan to send divers to repair a damaged underwater gas pipeline — which is leaking between 210,000 and 310,000 cubic feet of methane a… Continue reading