Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska - Juneau
Jacob Resneck is the regional director with CoastAlaska in Juneau.
Legislators approve $46M for Alaska ferries to avert fall shutdown
The state ferries will likely run through the winter months, avoiding a potential shutdown proposed by the Dunleavy administration.
Feds demand armed backup to keep Prince Rupert ferry terminal open
Alaska’s cash-strapped ferry system may soon pay the wages of Canadian police in order to maintain its connection to British Columbia. The arrangement is in response to a demand by U.S. customs agents for armed back up.
Unangax cemetery at former WWII internment camp may be added to Funter Bay park
Alaska lawmakers are considering expanding a state park to include historic graves of Alaska Natives who were among those who died in World War II internment camps.
Dissent at DEC emerges over roll-back of PFAS regulations
The Dunleavy administration’s decision to redefine PFAS levels considered safe in drinking water has caused dissension among a senior staffer working on contaminated sites. Lawmakers are scheduled to hold a hearing on the issue later this week.
Dunleavy administration dismisses Alaska ferries chief
The Alaska Marine Highway System’s top official lost her job this week to cost-cutting, according to Department of Transportation officials.
Icy Strait Point to add megaship dock as Hoonah readies for hundreds of thousands of cruise visitors
Hoonah’s Icy Strait Point is positioning itself as one of Alaska’s top cruise ship destinations. Roughly one in three cruise ship tourists will visit the entertainment complex on the outskirts of the small Southeast community next year.
House Fisheries urges pressure on B.C. over transboundary mining
A legislative committee heard from mine critics on both sides of the border during a Tuesday hearing in Juneau. It’s part of an effort to pressure British Columbia to tighten its mining regulations to reduce the threat of pollution from transboundary mines.
Tongass ‘timber sale’ nearing the finish line
Crews are spending the warmer months on Prince of Wales Island surveying vast areas of national forest land for potential logging.
Survey: Southeast business leaders pan Dunleavy budget priorities
A questionnaire sent to business leaders across Southeast Alaska found deep misgivings over the governor’s approach to balancing the budget.
Lawmakers urge Dunleavy to engage B.C. over transboundary mining
State lawmakers from both the House and Senate are urging the Dunleavy administration to continue the state’s engagement with British Columbia over pollution threats from transboundary mining.
Southeast Alaska pilots raise concerns over Royal Princess megaship
In anticipation of the 2019 cruise season, Southeast marine pilots have been testing megaships in virtual reality. They’re concerned about one of the vessel’s maneuverability in tight spots and low speeds.
Records reveal DOT planning Berners Bay ferry terminal on Lynn Canal
The Dunleavy administration is considering a new Juneau ferry terminal 30 miles north of the existing one to accommodate the short-range of the new Alaska-class ferries. It’s part of the plan to ensure day boats can connect Juneau with Haines and Skagway.
State ferry reshaping study stalls as coastal lawmakers remain skeptical
A state contract worth up to $250,000 to study the future of Alaska’s ferries is on hold.
Ocean Rangers log potential cruise pollution, face axe by lawmakers
Over the past two years Alaska’s on-board cruise ship inspectors called Ocean Rangers have documented a pattern of potentially serious water pollution. But there’s been no apparent action by regulators, and Gov. Dunleavy’s administration wants to get rid of the program.
Spill responders war-game worst-case scenarios in Southeast Alaska
Suppose a heavy cargo ship hauling ore collided with a tug and barge? First responders from the state and federal agencies practiced containing a hypothetical spill near Hawk Inlet.
Alaska’s fast ferries are being prepped for sale
State officials confirm the fast ferry Fairweather will be removed from service this month. It’s part of a plan to sell both fast ferries in advance of a $250,000 ferry system study commissioned by the Dunleavy administration.
EPA, Alaska seek to relax water pollution rules
The Trump administration is quietly reviving a long-stalled effort by state regulators to loosen pollution standards where fish spawn.
The night a Guardian Flight vanished, the Coast Guard’s nearest helicopters couldn’t fly
When a Guardian Flight air ambulance plane inexplicably vanished Jan. 29 over Frederick Sound, mechanical failures grounded the nearest Coast Guard helicopters at Air Station Sitka.
Ferry supporters rally as DOT ponies up $250,000 for privatization study
This comes as the Dunleavy administration decided to offer more time — and a lot more money — for a new study to recommend ways to reduce or eliminate the state’s subsidy for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Owner of B.C. gold mine near Taku River courts investors
A Canadian mining company wants to reopen a long-shuttered mine about 40 miles east of Juneau. It’s just a few miles from the Alaska border, and conservationists question the Dunleavy administration’s commitment to engaging British Columbia over potential pollution from mines upstream from Alaska waters