RIP Vic Fischer

With Vic’s passing at 99, the key players are all gone now, though we are left with a priceless record that will allow future generations to hear directly from those who helped create the state.

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Dermot Cole Comments
Draft report of Dunleavy energy task force champions bullet line, as expected

The latest draft report from the Dunleavy energy task force makes a stronger pitch for subsidizing our old friend—the gas pipeline—and injects the phrase “regret cost” into the debate about importing LNG to Alaska.

Critics will say that this has become a bullet line task force, which is no surprise. Enstar needs natural gas to survive as a utility and will be the bullet line champion.

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Dermot Cole Comments
Citizens’ group files lawsuit over Kinross trucking plan, charges state with failing to enforce laws

The Kinross ore hauling operation has landed in court, as expected.

A new nonprofit, Alaska Committee for Safe Communities, filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking a court order to force the state to follow a variety of laws and regulations the group says have been ignored by the Dunleavy administration.

The state should be “enjoined from permitting the ore haul operation to proceed,” the lawsuit claims.

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Dermot Cole Comments
State advisory committee asks for ‘pause’ on Kinross ore hauling plan while safety issues are sorted

The Transportation Advisory Committee examining the Kinross ore hauling plan voted 5-4 Thursday to ask the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to pause the ore haul until the state has implemented safety recommendations.

In another motion, the committee voted 7-2 to ask the transportation department who approved having Kinross start its ore haul work before the advisory committee work is completed

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Dermot Cole Comments