Two federal agencies this week took steps to increase hunting and trapping on several national preserves in Alaska and in the popular Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.The moves drew alarm from conservation groups who said the new rules will support extreme measures to kill predators and their young in national preserves in Alaska. They said a proposed rule change would allow brown bear baiting in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge for the first time.Alaska leaders praised the changes, and hunting groups and a tribal consortium said the new rules will support sport and subsistence hunters in...…Two federal agencies this week took steps to increase hunting and trapping on several national preserves in Alaska and in the popular Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.The moves drew alarm from conservation groups who said the new rules will support extreme measures to kill predators and their young in national preserves in Alaska. They said a proposed rule change would allow brown bear baiting in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge for the first time.Alaska leaders praised the changes, and hunting groups and a tribal consortium said the new rules will support sport and subsistence hunters in...WW…

An environmental group released videos on Monday of Pebble mine executives privately discussing their pull with Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other Alaska political leaders and the huge potential for expansion at the controversial Southwest Alaska copper and gold prospect., made by a Washington, D.C. group, , underscore longstanding criticisms by mine opponents about Pebble Limited’s political influence in Alaska and the White House.The group hired people to pose as potential investors interested in the mine’s long-term prospects during video calls with the Pebble officials in August...…An environmental group released videos on Monday of Pebble mine executives privately discussing their pull with Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other Alaska political leaders and the huge potential for expansion at the controversial Southwest Alaska copper and gold prospect., made by a Washington, D.C. group, , underscore longstanding criticisms by mine opponents about Pebble Limited’s political influence in Alaska and the White House.The group hired people to pose as potential investors interested in the mine’s long-term prospects during video calls with the Pebble officials in August...WW…

Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan cemented his opposition to the Pebble mine on Thursday after of the project’s now-former CEO and another executive describing their relationship with Sullivan and other Alaska politicians.“Given the lies of Pebble’s leadership, the record needs to be set straight,” Sullivan said in a three-part Twitter post on Thursday afternoon.The recordings were quickly used by Sullivan’s Senate challenger, Al Gross, accusing Sullivan of hiding his support for the mine from the public. Gross called for Sullivan to return campaign contributions from Pebble...…Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan cemented his opposition to the Pebble mine on Thursday after of the project’s now-former CEO and another executive describing their relationship with Sullivan and other Alaska politicians.“Given the lies of Pebble’s leadership, the record needs to be set straight,” Sullivan said in a three-part Twitter post on Thursday afternoon.The recordings were quickly used by Sullivan’s Senate challenger, Al Gross, accusing Sullivan of hiding his support for the mine from the public. Gross called for Sullivan to return campaign contributions from Pebble...WW…

Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier resigned on Wednesday of Collier and Ron Thiessen, president of Pebble parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals, discussing their connections and influence with Alaska politicians and regulators.Northern Dynasty also issued an apology to “all Alaskans," according to a released by the company. Northern Dynasty’s senior management and board of directors accepted Collier’s resignation, the statement said.“Collier’s comments embellished both his and the Pebble Partnership’s relationships with elected officials and federal representatives in Alaska,"...…Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier resigned on Wednesday of Collier and Ron Thiessen, president of Pebble parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals, discussing their connections and influence with Alaska politicians and regulators.Northern Dynasty also issued an apology to “all Alaskans," according to a released by the company. Northern Dynasty’s senior management and board of directors accepted Collier’s resignation, the statement said.“Collier’s comments embellished both his and the Pebble Partnership’s relationships with elected officials and federal representatives in Alaska,"...WW…

Update, 4:30 p.m. Monday: Troopers identified 46-year-old Daniel Schilling as the man killed by the bear, according to a .Original story:A man died in a bear attack Wednesday night that occurred off a trail near his property in the Hope area on the Kenai Peninsula, officials said Thursday.Alaska State Troopers were notified at 10:07 p.m. of the mauling, the agency said in a early Thursday.The man had been clearing a trail on Chugach National Forest land about a mile behind his property off Mile 8 of the Hope Highway, troopers said. The property is near the 19th-century mining town of...…Update, 4:30 p.m. Monday: Troopers identified 46-year-old Daniel Schilling as the man killed by the bear, according to a .Original story:A man died in a bear attack Wednesday night that occurred off a trail near his property in the Hope area on the Kenai Peninsula, officials said Thursday.Alaska State Troopers were notified at 10:07 p.m. of the mauling, the agency said in a early Thursday.The man had been clearing a trail on Chugach National Forest land about a mile behind his property off Mile 8 of the Hope Highway, troopers said. The property is near the 19th-century mining town of...WW…

The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday issued a right-of-way permit supporting a roughly 200-mile industrial road through the Northwest Alaska wilderness to a region that the state says could support several mines.In its 320-page , written jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency said the road will serve the public interest, including boosting revenues to the state of Alaska and employing thousands of workers during construction of the road and mines.as costly and and the region’s rivers.The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the state agency that...…The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday issued a right-of-way permit supporting a roughly 200-mile industrial road through the Northwest Alaska wilderness to a region that the state says could support several mines.In its 320-page , written jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency said the road will serve the public interest, including boosting revenues to the state of Alaska and employing thousands of workers during construction of the road and mines.as costly and and the region’s rivers.The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the state agency that...WW…

We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.State officials announced on Monday that sport and personal use fishing will remain open in Alaska, though anglers must still follow public health mandates.“Although travel between communities is prohibited under the issued health mandates, the public may still travel to fishing locations,” the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in .When people travel outside...…We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.State officials announced on Monday that sport and personal use fishing will remain open in Alaska, though anglers must still follow public health mandates.“Although travel between communities is prohibited under the issued health mandates, the public may still travel to fishing locations,” the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in .When people travel outside...WW…

Federal regulators this week ordered Hilcorp to replace a 7-mile-long aging pipeline in Cook Inlet after a helicopter pilot discovered a natural gas leak bubbling to the surface last week, the fifth leak for the subsea line since 2014.The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Tuesday also said the agency must approve the company’s restart plan before the line can resume operations in the near future, according to a The pipeline ships fuel gas, consisting 99% of methane, from the Nikiski area to power two offshore platforms that Hilcorp temporarily shut down following the...…Federal regulators this week ordered Hilcorp to replace a 7-mile-long aging pipeline in Cook Inlet after a helicopter pilot discovered a natural gas leak bubbling to the surface last week, the fifth leak for the subsea line since 2014.The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Tuesday also said the agency must approve the company’s restart plan before the line can resume operations in the near future, according to a The pipeline ships fuel gas, consisting 99% of methane, from the Nikiski area to power two offshore platforms that Hilcorp temporarily shut down following the...WW…

Hilcorp Alaska shut down two offshore production platforms in Cook Inlet after a helicopter pilot spotted bubbling water on the surface last week.Natural gas was leaking from a line that provides fuel for the platforms’ operations, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in a statement on Monday.Hilcorp stopped the leak on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., activating block valves, the agency said.The pilot discovered the leak on Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. Hilcorp reported the leak to the federal National Response Center and the state agency about an hour after the pilot discovered the...…Hilcorp Alaska shut down two offshore production platforms in Cook Inlet after a helicopter pilot spotted bubbling water on the surface last week.Natural gas was leaking from a line that provides fuel for the platforms’ operations, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in a statement on Monday.Hilcorp stopped the leak on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., activating block valves, the agency said.The pilot discovered the leak on Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. Hilcorp reported the leak to the federal National Response Center and the state agency about an hour after the pilot discovered the...WW…

A surge of oil company donations has boosted the efforts of a group fighting a ballot initiative that seeks to raise taxes on the industry, according to the latest campaign reports.The contributions have helped the group, called OneAlaska, substantially outspend and outraise Vote Yes for Alaska’s Fair Share, the group supporting the initiative to increase oil production taxes.OneAlaska has raised $5.4 million since forming last year, said treasurer Cheryl Frasca on Monday.The Fair Share group has raised $450,000, according to Ross Thompson, that group’s treasurer.The last oil-tax fight in...…A surge of oil company donations has boosted the efforts of a group fighting a ballot initiative that seeks to raise taxes on the industry, according to the latest campaign reports.The contributions have helped the group, called OneAlaska, substantially outspend and outraise Vote Yes for Alaska’s Fair Share, the group supporting the initiative to increase oil production taxes.OneAlaska has raised $5.4 million since forming last year, said treasurer Cheryl Frasca on Monday.The Fair Share group has raised $450,000, according to Ross Thompson, that group’s treasurer.The last oil-tax fight in...WW…