Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Huslia Program Gets Kids Mushing
The Junior North American sled dog championships are underway in North Pole. Among young mushers competing is a group of middle and high school students who flew in with their dogs from an interior village to race.
New Crude Oil Agreement Signed Between State, Flint Hills
The state would continue to supply the Flint Hills North Pole Refinery with crude oil under a proposed new contract. The state of Alaska has sold royalty oil to Flint Hills for the last three decades, an arrangement state and company officials say is mutually beneficial.
Tanana Chiefs Conference Discusses Yukon Chinook Stocks
The Tanana Chiefs Conference has gathered leaders from interior Alaska Native villages in Fairbanks to talk about Yukon River salmon. There’s frustration with the depressed state of Yukon River Chinook stocks.
State Sets Contamination Threshold For Sulfolane
The state has set a contamination threshold for sulfolane in North Pole ground water. The standard reflects years of research on the chemical which has polluted the aquifer in an area surrounding a local oil refinery.
NPS Considers Increasing Winter Vehicle Access Into Denali National Park
The National Park Service is considering increasing winter vehicle access into Denali National Park. The agency is taking public comment on proposals to plowing farther out the road. Park spokeswoman Kris Fister says access would be increased beyond the mile 3 visitor center where plowing currently stops.
Exxon, Rosneft Sign Agreement To Work In Russian Arctic
Exxon Mobil and Russian national oil company Rosneft have signed an agreement to extract oil and gas from the Russian Arctic. According to information posted on Exxon’s website, the deal covers 600,000 square kilometers in the Chukchi, Laptev and Kara Seas.
Parnell Says Fairbanks LNG Trucking Project Is Must-Pass Legislation
Governor Sean Parnell says funding for a Fairbanks natural gas trucking project is must pass legislation this session. Speaking to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Parnell said bills to fund the interior energy project have to be dealt with before legislators go home this spring.
Researchers Successfully Launch Rocket From Poker Flat
A research rocket was successfully launched from Poker Flat north of Fairbanks last week. The 67 foot high 11 thousand pound rocket was launched into the upper atmosphere February 6th.
Expedition To Mark 100th Anniversary Of Conquest Of Denali
A group of descendants of the first men to summit Denali plan to climb the mountain on the 100th anniversary of their forbearers historic ascent. This week they announced the project with a press conference at St. Mathews Episcopal Church in Fairbanks, the same location where the 1913 expedition was launched.
Public Turns Out For Eielson Meetings
The Air Force is wrapping up a series of public meetings in Alaska tonight in North Pole. The scoping sessions are to identify issues to consider in an environmental impact statement for the proposed downsizing of Eielson Air Force Base. The cost savings of moving an F-16 squadron from Fairbanks to Anchorage have faced a range of opposition and questions at meetings in both communities.
Air Force Seeking Feedback On F-16 Relocation Proposal
The Air Force is beginning a series of public meetings on its proposal to move an F-16 squadron from Eielson Air Force base in North Pole to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. Meetings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Anchorage and Palmer, and in Fairbanks and North Pole Wednesday and Thursday. Fairbanks is rallying to protect the local Air Force installation from downsizing.
Explosion Rocks Fairbanks Neighborhood
An explosion rocked a Fairbanks neighborhood over the weekend. Alaska State Troopers say the blast occurred on a makeshift shooting range on private property in the Chena Ridge area Saturday afternoon. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says no injuries were reported, but there was damage to area homes.
Alaska Plant Tapped As Health Supplement
A plant tapped as a health supplement offers an economic opportunity in Alaska. Rhodiola prospers in high latitudes and has long been recognized by Alaska Natives for its medicinal qualities. Some Alaska farmers are positioning to sell into a lucrative world market.
Fairbanks Shies Away From Marijuana Dispensary Proposal
The City of Fairbanks is being asked to authorize operation of the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary. A local woman is pushing the city to legalize operation of a business that could cultivate and sell the drug to approved medical users.
UAF Moves Forward With Power, Heating Plant Replacement Plan
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is pushing ahead with a plan to replace its aging power and heating plant. The current facility, built in 1962, will be replaced with one that still primarily relies on coal, but can also burn other fuels, including biomass and natural gas.
In-State Gas Line Plan Tweaked
The state run company pursuing a smaller volume in-state bullet line to bring North Slope gas to Fairbanks, Anchorage and other communities, has overhauled the project. The new plan puts the gas line on a diet.
State Reviews Plans To Bring North Slope LNG To Fairbanks
The state is reviewing proposals for liquefying North Slope gas, trucking it to Fairbanks, and distributing it to consumers. The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority last month solicited letters of interest in the project, and agency spokesman Karsten Rodvik says they received 16 replies by a Jan. 8 deadline.
Burning Death Prompts Questions And Concerns
The Fairbanks Native community and local officials came together Thursday to share information about the recent fire death of a homeless man. Johnny Wallis, a long time Fairbanks resident who lived on the streets, was found burning in the downtown post office on New Year’s Day. Thursday’s press conference provided a range of views, but little clarity on the disturbing incident.
Wax Buildup Causing Pipeline Problems
Wax buildup caused by low oil throughput is continuing to cause problems for Trans Alaska Pipeline operators. The wax is at the heart of recent trouble with mechanical pigs used to clean the inside of the pipeline.
Alaska DEC Suing Operators Of Outdoor Wood-Powered Boilers In Fairbanks
Pollution from two outdoor wood boilers in Fairbanks has resulted in the state filing suit against the operators. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is suing Andrew and Gloria Straughn to halt operation of the boilers at rental properties they own in a neighborhood near Wood River Elementary School.