Anchorage Daily News

Environmental monitoring limited on some cruise ships. Ocean rangers are U.S. Coast Guard-certified marine engineers who inspect ships and file daily reports on safety, environmental compliance and sanitation while vessels are in Alaska waters.

The program was created after Alaska voters approved a cruise ship ballot initiative in 2006 that directed the state to hold cruise ships with more than 250 berths to new wastewater discharge and pollution standards.

A June 23 report filed by a manager of the program says at least 10 of 28 vessels are limiting the rangers' ability to perform their inspections, reports the Juneau Empire.

"The general feeling is that both Holland America and Princess Cruises have issued guidelines to the onboard crews on how to restrict and control the observations of the rangers," wrote Paul Johnsen, manager of the Ocean Rangers program.

The Associated Press reports that two Alaska groups - Responsible Cruising in Alaska and Campaign to Safeguard America's Waters - on Tuesday filed a 45-day notice of intent to sue, taking aim at two of the dominant lines.

***

U.S. and Canada will map North American Arctic together this summer. The Globe and Mail reports that late this summer, the Louis St. Laurent, a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy will sail into the northern Beaufort Sea, far off the coast of Alaska and Yukon. The Healy will break a path for the Louis St. Laurent to follow, enabling the Canadian vessel to tow seismic equipment that will examine the seabed.

Their cooperation is surprising, since the two countries disagree over the status of the Northwest Passage.

***

Fuel prices keep fishing boats and research vessels tied up at the dock. The Associated Press reports that more and more fishermen are staying home in Alaska and around the U.S. because of high fuel prices.

The 64 percent rise in the cost of diesel over the past year -- with spikes of as much as 75 percent in some parts of Alaska -- means already-tight profit margins are being stretched even further, leaving less take-home pay for captains and crews.

Fisheries economist Gunnar Knapp says the result will be higher prices for fish, but he can't yet predict which species.

KIAL in Unalaska reports that tight funding and energy costs have cut or limited some National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research surveys in the Bering Sea. Eventually, gaps in knowledge could mean more conservative management policies, a researcher said.

***

Research team headed to Dutch Harbor, American Samoa for humpback studies. Terri Irwin, widow of the famed "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, will fund the research through Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute, according to the South Lincoln County News.

Breeding, foraging and migration will be the focus of the work. In September, the research team will tag up to 25 humpback whales near Unimak Pass at the eastern end of the Aleutian Islands chain. In October, they'll travel to the South Pacific, where the scientists will tag humpback whales at American Samoa near the end of their reproductive season. Satellites will track their spring migration to Antarctic feeding grounds.

Speaking of whales. Alaska magazine this month profiles photographer Flip Nicklin, former National Geographic photographer, as he heads into a new phase of his fascination with whales - public education projects so people can appreciate them as much as he does.

***

Rep. Don Young upsets coastal state colleagues over environmental amendment. The Hill reports that Young carved out an exemption for Alaska's coasts from a bill that would create a grant program to protect these areas. His move may also eliminate three other states that wanted to participate.

The amendment says only states with coastal populations of "at least 85 people per square mile" can apply for the coastal preservation grants. That kicks Oregon, Maine and Minnesota out of applying for grants.

"It was a surprise and a shock," said Andrea Geiger who works with a nonprofit that represents governors of 35 coastal states. "No one was really prepared for the language or understood the language enough to know what they were passing. That led me to believe that no one had seen the language prior to the markup."

***

Homeless fisherman acquitted of charges after drunken incident at the Rendezvous. A jury of four men and eight women agreed that the 40-year-old fisherman was drunk and disorderly, but prosecutors failed to convince them that John Falcone caused the hundreds of dollars of damage to the bar, the Juneau Empire reports.

Falcone took the stand in his own defense and argued that he was simply standing at the bar when handcuffed by police.

"I was too drunk to leave," he said. "I can't get drunk in a bar? That's ridiculous."

Falcone spent four months in jail between February and June at a cost of more than $15,000 to the state.

***

Fairbanks taxis are charging how much a foot? A humorous item in Dermot Cole's column in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner makes mention of the long-deregulated taxis in the Interior city and their struggle to cope with rising gas prices.

A few years ago, the rate was 10 cents for every 20th of a mile, or $2 a mile. Now, some are charging 10 cents for every 31st of a mile, which Cole says his wife calculates out to be 10 cents for every 170 feet. "So just how low will the fluctuating fraction go?" he wonders.

***

Deadly Sitka crash blamed on pilot. The Juneau Empire reports that the National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot whose plane crashed into a house in Sitka killing four people had apparently become lost and disoriented.

"From witness statements, it appears the pilot was 'hunting' for the airport and intentionally dove the plane towards what he perceived was an area close to it," the report said. The crash happened in August of 2007.

***

Learning more about bear behavior suddenly seems important. After last weekend's bear mauling of an Anchorage teen, area residents have heightened concern over living in such close proximity to them. A column by Sherry Simpson in Alaska magazine is worth a look for some thoughts on the topic.

Decades of experience have convinced (Alaska Peninsula guide Derek Stonorov) that bears communicate with people using the same visual signals they use with each other, delivered through posture, stance, expression and behavior. We just don't speak bear. And sometimes their messages - a swipe or a bite on the rump - have more consequences for humans than they would for other bears.

***

Other headlines of interest to Alaskans:

> Permafrost conference: Global warming outpaced predictions (Fairbanks Daily News Miner)

> Alaska has highest average gas price in nation again (AAA)

> Lawmakers call for details on the Denali pipeline (Fairbanks Daily News Miner)

> AGIA would limit help to Denali pipe (Alaska Journal of Commerce)

> Fire department helicopter contract running out (KTUU)

ADVERTISEMENT