Alaska News

This oh-so-Fat Friday promises hundreds of millions for Alaska

"Supersize Me!"

That's how it feels on this bountiful Fat Friday.

Our end-of-the-week report — wherein we gloat about Alaska's extra-large slice of the federal pie based on weekly press releases from Alaska's congressional delegation -- is especially awesome this time.

In fact, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, while announcing the "boon" for Alaska in the proposed Interior appropriations bill, called her fellow Alaskans "a bottom-line people." She meant that as a compliment, we're sure. The measure, Murkowski said, contains plenty of "bottom-line" goodies to meet the needs of the 49th state.

But hers isn't the only glowing press release. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, announced more riches may be coming to Alaska in the Defense Department spending bill. Awaiting the president's signature, it includes hundreds of millions of dollars for Alaska bases. Highlights include:

• $392.8 million for Alaska military construction.

• $114 million for the aviation complex at Fort Wainwright.

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Joint-Base Elmendorf Richardson:

• $74 million for the Brigade Complex

• $3.6 million for organizational parking

• $26 million for a physical fitness facility

• $97 million for the Brigade Combat Team (Light) Complex

Eielson Air Force Base:

• $45 million for dormitory

• $14.8 million to upgrade rail line

Kodiak special operations forces:

$18.4 million for a cold-weather maritime training facility

Fort Greely

• $1.2 billion for the missile defense system at Fort Greely near Delta Junction. Alaska Dispatch could not determine late Friday if the full $1.2 billion is headed to Greely, the home of most of the Ground Based Interceptor missiles that could be launched against a ballistic warhead headed for the U.S., perhaps from a rogue state such as Iran or North Korea.

Funding that may be a little more iffy at this stage includes the Interior Department appropriations bill working its way through the House and Senate. It calls for:

• $62.1 million to finish construction of the Barrow Hospital

• $10 million to rural villages for water infrastructure programs from the Environmental Protection Agency, equal to last year's level.

• $29 million to convey land from the Bureau of Land Management to the state of Alaska, Native corporations and individual Natives, restoring cuts proposed in the president's budget request.

• $2.6 million for U.S. Forest Service for subsistence management.

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• $7.5 million to finish building a 6,457-square-foot visitor center and to rehabilitate the administrative offices at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

• $24 million for the Alaska Volcano Observatory's volcano hazards program.

There's also $220 million -- $24 million above the president's budget request — for Bureau of Indian Affairs Contract Support Costs. That means more money for Alaska Native health care organizations, which traditionally must sue the federal government in attempts to be fully compensated for their administrative costs

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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