Dunleavy budget falsely claims 'Ocean Ranger' program eliminated
The proposed budget for the Department of Environmental Conservation contains this false statement: “The Ocean Ranger program was eliminated in 2019. The department will continue working on a replacement for the program that is more efficient (than) the previous program.”
This seems to be wishful thinking on the part of DEC Commissioner Jason Brune, who told the Resource Development Council in March that eliminating the cruise ship oversight work of the rangers was “near and dear to my heart.”
He said he doesn’t want state contract workers “breathing down the neck” of cruise ship operators in Alaska waters.
The Legislature refused to approve Brune’s heartfelt wish, but the governor took a step in that direction with his rule-by-veto approach. Dunleavy vetoed $3.4 million to pay for Ocean Rangers on cruise ships next summer, but he does not have the power to eliminate the program.
Going into 2020, the program is not dead. It is dormant. Cruise ship passengers are still paying the $4 fee that funds the program and Brune’s personal opposition is not a reason to end it.
There is a difference between eliminating a program by changing state law and the power the governor has to veto the money to run a program. Unlike other vetoes, this one provides no savings to the state.
The governor did a big favor for the cruise ship industry with this veto, though the companies are smart enough to refrain from openly celebrating.
The 2006 state law enacted by the voters requires that Ocean Rangers travel on large cruise ships in Alaska waters.
Brune has long been an opponent of the rangers. He says that without them, the state has other programs to monitor cruise ships.
The DEC website says this about the program: “Ocean Rangers are Coast Guard certified marine engineers or a person who holds a degree in marine safety and environmental protection from an accredited maritime educational institution. Ocean Rangers will use a checklist to monitor compliance with state and federal requirements pertaining to marine discharge and pollution.”
“These are people that are basically breathing down the neck of folks on the cruise ships,” Brune told the RDC about his opposition to the rangers.
“They’re not adding any additional environmental oversight or care to the environment. These people are not Alaskans predominately and no other industry in the state is regulated 24/7. Can you imagine having someone breathing down your neck at your office 24/7? It’s not appropriate.”
“So we are working to try to eliminate that program. There has been some pushback.”
He said, “to set a standard for one industry that we don’t set for all the others is inappropriate, so we’re working to repeal that.”
He told me last summer that he also objects to the state having to pay for berths on the ships, which helps the bottom line of the companies. As I wrote at the time, the best way to fix that is to amend the law and require the companies to provide space for the Ocean Rangers on the vessels.
The problem with Brune’s 24/7 complaint is that the cruise ships are traveling cities with thousands of passengers that cover thousands of miles in state waters, far beyond the sight of regulators. They aren’t like industries or offices that stay in one place. Preventing cruise ship pollution should be a DEC priority and the Ocean Rangers should continue to be part of that effort, a safeguard that is good for Alaska.
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