Alaska Beat

Beluga rules 'not onerous'

According to the Peninsula Clarion, an official with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service described the new rules for economic activity in areas designated critical habitat for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales as "not onerous," and said that the designations add "another veneer of federal bureaucracy," which is significant, but also which doesn't create extreme restrictions, like those in a wilderness area. The official said that the label "critical habitat" is unfortunately easy to misconstrue. Read much more here. The article also reminds readers that the comment period for the critical habitat designation has been extended to March 3, and gives information about where and how to register a comment.

Scott Woodham

Scott Woodham is a former writer and editor for Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News.

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