Environment

Commercial fishing banned in Arctic waters as of Dec. 3

A plan that puts a large area of the Arctic Ocean off-limits to commercial fishing goes into effect Dec. 3, federal officials said Tuesday.

Road salt contaminates many urban streams, study shows

Many urban streams have become salty enough to harm aquatic life, largely because of salt used for deicing roads in the winter, according to a government study.

Groups say they'll sue over coal dust

Three Alaska environmental groups said Thursday they plan to file a lawsuit over coal-dust pollution in Seward.

Congressmen worry ocean policy will block development

Dozens of U.S. representatives sent a letter Monday to the head of the president's Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force with concerns that the policy will block offshore energy development and cost jobs to Americans.

Global warming demonstration today

A global warming demonstration is scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. today at the Kincaid Park outdoor center, part of a synchronized global protest. The goal is to send a message to national and world leaders asking them to champion legislation on climate change and ocean acidification and to draft a strong international climate treaty in December in Copenhagen, according to organizers of the event.

Cruise ship pollution rules have some Alaskans fretting

Some Alaska ports of call along with Gov. Sean Parnell have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rethink -- or at least slow down -- its plans to impose stricter air-quality requirements for cruise ships and other large oceangoing vessels.

Apples grow in hoops at UAF

FAIRBANKS -- Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks report an encouraging sign for locally grown fruit -- a robust apple crop.

Fairbanks air not good enough, EPA says, Juneau doing better

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough are not in compliance with federal air-quality standards.

Fairbanks air again fails to meet federal quality standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says parts of the Fairbanks area are still not in compliance with standards for fine-particle air pollution. The city was flagged for the same violations in 2008.

Southwest Alaska sea otters get habitat protection

Four years after being placed on the Endangered Species List, the dwindling sea otters of southwest Alaska on Wednesday were given an important recovery tool.

Forest restoration is helping heal Tongass scars

Loggers who for decades clear-cut large swaths of old trees from the nation's largest national forest left behind a legacy of destruction. Now, a new industry is returning the noise of chain saws, backhoes and excavators to the Tongass.

Eagle Scout project may save everyone some money

Thanks to 15-year-old Garrison Wilts, planet-unfriendly appliances lurking about the state can be exposed for the energy-sucking clunkers they are.

Fairbanks air pollution could become costly

A law firm hired by the Fairbanks North Star Borough says the borough could face federal sanctions if it fails to clean up air pollution.

ALASKA POLITICS BLOG

Senate blocks Murkowski attempt to limit EPA authority

The U.S. Senate today declined to take up Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's amendment to limit for a year the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, factories and other stationary sources of pollution.

Murkowski wants hold on greenhouse gas emission rules

Environmentalists say they're disappointed in a proposal by Sen. Lisa Murkowski to force the Environmental Protection Agency to hold off for a year on regulating so-called "stationary" emitters of greenhouse gases, such as power plants.

Sea ice melt 3rd largest in 30 years

The summer melt of Arctic sea ice wasn't quite as bad this year as the last two years. But it still ranked as the third biggest melt in 30 years.

Arctic Ocean ice melt slows a bit this summer

WASHINGTON -- The summer melt of Arctic sea ice wasn't quite as bad this year as the past two years, but it still ranked as the third biggest melt on record.

Scores of walrus carcasses found on Arctic coast

Up to 200 dead walruses have been spotted on the shore of Chukchi Sea on Alaska's northwest coast. Federal biologists report the carcasses appeared to be mostly new calves or yearlings.

Sea ice melt 3rd largest in 30 years

Cruise ships don't fare well in pollution report

An environmental group released its report card Wednesday on how well cruise-ship companies operating in American waters are doing to reduce pollution.

FOE's Cruise Ship Report Card

Alaska to have one of eight new federal climate-change centers

The Interior Department is creating eight regional response centers, including one based in Alaska, to address the impact of climate change on the people and land overseen by the agency.

Fairbanks borough OKs 5-cent tax on plastic shopping bags

Over the protests of store representatives, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on Thursday approved a 5-cent tax on plastic shopping bags in large retailers to reduce litter and help pay for recycling programs.

Bethel prohibits plastic bags