A periodic publication of the Resource Development Council, Inc.

Determination on "endangered" listing to come next spring

The National Marine Service (NMFS) is proposing to classify the Cook Inlet Beluga whale as a "depleted species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The federal agency will not be making afinal determination on whether Cook Inlet beluga whales should be considered threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) until the results of the 1999 population surveys are completed. That decision is expected next spring. In a letter to Lee Stephan, Chair- fishermen," said Ste man of the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Vice President of the Council, NMFS Administrator After more than 50 years of coal mining in Healy Alaska, we've barely begun to tap this Steven Pennoyer said that the mea- ecutive Committee member. valuable energy resource. At our current production rate, we could mine for another 100 sures necessary to protect the Cook The National Marine Fisheries years on our active coal leases alone. Inlet beluga from further decline are Service issued a bioloaical opinion provided through the combined de- And at the Healy Clean Coal Plant, the combination of state-of-the-art pleted designation and a recently combustion technology and Usibelli's ultra-low sulfur coal will generate passed Stevens amendment to the some of the cleanest energy anywhere in the world. MMPA. The Stevens amendment pro- hibits the subsistence harvest of bel- - v "The amendment removes the time." uga whales in Cook Inlet until October immediatethreat to this stockfrom over- Federal officials say the beluga 100 CUSHMAN STREET, SUITE 210 FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99701 . (907) 452-2625 1, 2000, unless that harvest occurs as harvest," Pennoyer said. "Therefore, whales warrant special protection be- part of a co-management agreement no determination on listing this stock as cause their population has fallen below between NMFS and authorized Alaska a threatened or endangered species 50 percent of their maximum known Resource Development Council Native organizations. Bulk Rate under the ESA is being made at this numbers in Cook Inlet. The listing gives 12 1 W. Fireweed, Suite 250 U.S. Postage NMFS more ability to control Native Anchorage, AK 99503 "We haven't closed the door on an Endangered Species hunting which federal biologists believe ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PAID Anchorage, AK 1 Act listing. A listing will at least, in part, be determined by is the main cause behind the beluga's Permit No. 377 declining population. the results of the 1999 surveys. " - Mike Payne, NMFS (Continued to page 4) Page 8 / RESOURCE REVIEW / October 1999 The September visit would not have ¡Listing ¡RDC board gets been possible without the support of our will mean more regulation generous sponsors. A big thank you to first hand look at industry, city , the City of Unalaska, (Continued from page 4) (Continued from page 3) UniSea, Alyeska , Westward Seafoods, American Seafoods, North Pa- will allow a harvest at some level in the troops were stationed at Unalaska and cific Fuel, Sealand Services, North Star year 2000." Payne said. Dutch Harbor. During our visit, we saw Maritime Agencies, NC Machinery, and A depleted listing could be a "step- many remnants of their stay. The Crowley Marine Services. I would also like ping stone" for environmentalists to Ounalashka Native Corporation intends to to extend RDC's appreciationto Rick Knecht reach a larger agenda of more regula- build an interpretive centerto tell the story of at the Museum of the Aleutians, Dick Davis tion and restriction. the Thousand Mile War in the Aleutians, at Ounalashka Corporation, Don Graves at A depleted listing not only gives including the sad chapter on the relocation UniSea, Tom Enlow at the Grand Aleutian of the Ungan people of this area and the Hotel and Unalaska Public Works Director It was my pleasure last month to species processed in Unalaska plants NMFS the ability to stop Native hunting join a contingent of RDC board mem- include king and snow crab, pacific cod, hardshipsthey endured duringthe war years. Bill Bradshaw. Many others deserve recog- outside a co-management agreement, nition, including Public UtilitiesDirector Mike bers and staff on a trip to one of the halibut, herring, black cod, and yellow Unalaska has had a rich and varied it could result in stricter regulation of oil past and the community has made many Golat, City Manager Scott Seabury, most dynamic communities in Alaska fin sole. and gas operations, shipping, quality of life improvements. It has a strong Unalaska School Superintendent Steve and the number one commercial fish- I couldn't help but notice the striking commercial fishing, sport fishing and and committed fishing industry and is only Cathers and City Council members Shirley ing port in the nation - Dutch Harbor1 similarities a Dutch Harbor treated wastewater discharges from beginning to tap its promising potential in Marqardt, Tammy Pound, Bev Reid, Gregg Unalaska. processing plant has with production local communities. Additional regulation tourism and sport fishing. It is truly a beau- Hanson and Rusty Sinnott We would also RDC chose Unalaska and the Port facilities in Alaska's other resource would result in higher costs for resource tiful area of Alaska that is well worth a visit. like to thank Father Peter Bourdukofsky of the Holy Ascension Orthodox Cathedral. of Dutch Harbor as the site for its 1999 industries. A seafood processor must industries, local businesses and On behalf of RDC, Iwould like to thank Mayor Kelty and RDC Executive Commit- I'd also like to thank Don Graves in a community outreach trip to learn more carefully time the intake of fish with the residents and could have a significant about the region's fishing industry and output of product while maintaining tee member Stephanie Madsen for an un- secondary capacity, as owner and Captain impact on general commerce in the of Shuregood Adventures, oneof thecharter the meet with local business and equipment uptime, overall productivity forgettable trip. Stephanie, a former 17- region. year resident of Dutch Harbor, was largely operations on the island. Don graciously community leaders. and quality control. Don Graves of UniSea describes the Environmentalists favor a listing responsiblefor putting together our itinerary gave Bob Stiles, Frank Brown and I a lift in The seafood industry is the driving processing of pollock into Surimi to Jim Unalaska is also a major support under the ESA because that law has and keeping us on track. Mayor Kelty, serv- one of his boats to one of the area's force of the local economy. In 1998, Branch and Jim Cloud. Surimi appears in base for the offshore factory trawlers tougher restrictions for development ing his fourth-consecutive term as mayor, outstanding salmon streams where we annual landings from commercial fish- seafood products ranging from traditional and factory long-liners. activities in critical habitat areas and gave up his weekend to make sure our trip experienced some "killer cohos." Our only eries in Alaska exceeded 5 billion Japanese holiday foods to artificial crab. Unalaska Mayor Frank Kelty is the burden is on the developer, not the was a grand success. disappointment was that we couldn't stay longer. pounds, accounting for 53 percent of proud of his bustling community and its government, to prove an activity will not the total U.S. harvest. In Unalaska alone, fishing industry. He was quick to point pose any harm. 597 million pounds of fish were landed out that the seafood industry is the RDC is concerned that a depleted with a value of more than $1 10 million. largest employer in Alaska with three listing could give environmental groups No other port in America was as high in top ten companies located in his com- another tool to obstruct development, volume and dollar value. munity. He noted Unalaska contributes including oil and gas leasing in Cook The main species that contributed nearly $12 million annually to the state Inlet. RDC is also concerned that NMFS to this remarkable tonnage and value is in fish and marine fuel taxes. Unalaska may attach additional restrictions pollock, processed in local plants into also sells more marine fuel than any beyond what would typically come with surimi, fillets and by-products such as other community in the state. a depleted listing. , bone meal and fish oil. Other (Continued to page 3) RDC has urged NMFS to move forward with a co-management agreement with Native hunters and to conduct more research before a final determination is made. 'Our ultimate goal is to see the beluga population recover and for Natives to resume their traditional subsistence hunts at some level," said Ken Freeman, RDC's Executive Director. "How we get there is the issue. It shouldn't be to the detriment of our Upper left: RDC board members, led by local industries and communities which Stephanie Madsen,prepare to enter UniSea have not been a factor in the beluga's plant. Upper right: The Russian Orthodox decline." Cathedral is one of the most treasured The public will have 60 days to landmarks in Unalaska. Bottom left: RDC comment on the proposed listing once Executive CommitteememberMark Hanley it is published in the Federal Register hiked to the top of Ballyhoo Mountain for a The RDC delegation stands before a monument honoring the return of Aleuts to Unalaska later this fall. Publication was expected commanding view of Unalaska. Bottom right: and other villages following their internment in Southeast Alaska during World War 11. by the middle of October. Group gathers on Bunker Hill. Page 2 IRESOURCE REVIEW IOctober 1999 - 1999 IRESOURCE REVIEW IPage 7 A coalition of six environmental tension to log the remainder. This groups have filed a lawsuit to prevent summer's agreement provided for the the Forest Service from moving for- extension. ward on an agreement reached this The agreement requires the timber summerthat would feed 80 million board to be used at the new veneer plant feet of timber to a proposed veneer which a new company, Gateway Forest plant in Ketchikan. Products, plans to build and have op- Louisiana Pacific Corporation has erational by the end of next summer. rights to the timber under an earlier Environmentalists bitterly oppose agreement with the Clinton the agreement, despite pledges to administration that settled claims support value-added processing and a Mayor Frank Kelty addresses the RDC resulting from the March 1997 closure viable, but smaller industry in the contingent. Kelty is serving his fourth term as mayor of Unalaska. ~ollock,a white-fleshed groundfish which fueled the Unalaska fishing boom that began in of the Ketchikan pulp mill. The pulp Tongass. the late 1980s, is mostly processed into surimi. The UniSea plant in Dutch Harbor is the mill's timber was provided through a Non-development interests waged The proposed veneerplant will create up to Since the Unalaska economy is largest onshore processor of surimi in the U.S. 50-year long-term contract with the an all-out assault over the past ten 70 new jobs and preserve some 200 others by allowing the existing sawmill, pictured almost totally dependent on the sea- resource and a myriad of parallel Forest Service. When the Clinton years to convince the Clinton adminis- above, to remain in operation. food industry, the community has many regulatory issues. tration to terminate the region's two concerns about the Steller sea lion pro- These issues impact the cost of long-term timber supply contracts and "The timber industry in tection measures underthe Endangered doing business and they are a major severely reduce logging in the Tongass "This is a small scale, community- Species Act. The community is also concern in Unalaska, just as they are Southeast is doing every- National Forest. While they routinely based business," Skillings said of the concerned about reduced quotas from forthe oil industry at Prudhoe Bay orthe launched numerous lawsuits and ad- veneer plant, which is expected to em- thing it can to adjust to declining stocks and habitat issues. timber industry in Ketchikan. ministrative appeals over timber sales ploy about 70 people. Crab stocks in the Bering Sea are in a Unalaska is a community that has changing markets and the in the region, environmentalistsclaimed Later this month Gateway is ex- major decline. Mayor Kelty says re- experienced a tremendous amount of reduced supply. The they were not out to destroy the timber pectedto purchasethe assets of the old search and recovery is a priority. growth. On ourtour, we sawthree major industry, but to help craft a sustainable pulp mill from L-P, including the prop- proposed veneer plant is The City of Unalaska and the shoreside processingplants worth more forest products industry with a smaller erty at Ward Cove and the remaining seafood industry share many common than $300 million. We also saw the a value-added facility. It environmental footprint. timber. concerns with RDC's other members in vessels that fish forthem, as well as the They were largely successful in Many Southeast Alaskans have ex- will take logs that are the oil, gas, timber, mining and tourism offshore fleet. We toured a new their efforts to convince the Forest Ser- pressed disappointment with the law- industries. We all face similar community recreationalcenter, city hall, currently getting chipped, vice to sharply reduce logging. Only a suit, claiming it verifies the real inten- challenges, including access to the medical clinic, public works facility, make a higher value mere one-half of one percent of the tions of non-development interests - product from them and forested lands in the Tongass are now to wipe out what remains of any forest available for logging. Thousands of jobs products industry in the Tongass. Unisea employees process pollock during create new jobs in the have been lost and local communities According to Jack Phelps, Execu- the final fishing period of the year. tive Director of the Alaska Forest Asso- process. This is good have taken big hits to their tax base. library, and museum. news for everyone except Cliff Skillings, a spokesman for the ciation, "the timber industry in South- One of the highlights of our visit proposed veneer operation, said the east is doing everything it can to adjust was a stop at the Holy Ascension a few radicals who want 1997 settlement was meant to keep to changing markets and the reduced Orthodox Cathedral, which has just everyone who isn't a people employed at the site of the supply. The proposed veneer plant is a undergone a $1 million restoration Ketchikan pulp mill where the new plant value-added facility. It will take logs whistle-carver to go on project. It is one of the most impressive is to be built. The agreement was also that are currently getting chipped, make churches in Alaskaand is now a National welfare or leave town - or intended to ease the transition from a higher value product from them and Historical Landmark. pulp production to a new, more environ- create 60 or 70 new jobs in the process. both." - Jack Phelps, AFA Unalaska has a rich past. The island mentally-friendly facility. Skillings said It will also preserve some 200 jobs by was home to the Ungan people for the one-year extension granted by the allowing the existing sawmill to remain thousands of years. A world-class more recent agreement is merely an in operation. This is good news for administration cancelledthe contract in archeological dig near the museum is "adjustment" that is not uncommon and everyone except a few radicals who 1997, it gave L-P until December 31, uncovering the past of the ancient want everyone who isn't a whistle-carver 1999 to log the remaining timber. the terms are consistent with the Forest people of the Aleutians. to go on welfare or leave town or The company has harvested about Service's goal of helping to usher in a - During World War II, 30,000 U.S. two-thirds of the timber and has asked new timber industry in Southeast both." Raoul Benoit tends to the crab pot lot in Dutch Harbor. The lot holds several thousand crab the Forest Service for a one-year ex- Alaska. pots. Crab from the Bering Sea ends up on the table of consumers all around the world. (Continued to page 7) Page 6 / RESOURCE REVIEW / Octok October 1999 / RESOURCE REVIEW / Page 3 (Continued from page 1) RDC, the Municipality of Anchorage and numerous business organizations have argued against a listing of the species as endangered or threatened underthe ESA becauseofthe additional regulatory burden a listing would create on a wide variety of activities in and around Cook Inlet. Local communities and business interests instead urged federal officials to hammer out a co- management agreement with Native hunters. While a depleted listing under the MMPA is not as onerous as an ESA determination in terms of regulation on existing activities, it still requires federal officials to draft a plan that spells out The Municipality of Anchorage opposes listing the Cook Inlet beluga whale under the Endangered Species Act. For now the beluga whales will be listed as "depleted under the what actions will be necessary to assure Marine Mammal Protection Act. A determination is expected next spring on an ESA listing. the declining population will rebound. Under the listing, NMFS may develop accuracy of beluga population esti- "They have no major incentive to or implement conservation or mates, calling them too low. They note negotiate right now because they es- management measuresto alleviate any that the purported magnitude of the sentially have their moratorium on hunt- impacts on areas of ecological populationdecrease is suspect because ing through a depleted listing," Alex significance to belugas. The MMPA the current lower numbers, derived from said. "The real issue is that they have requires that such measures shall be using a revised counting methodology, now cut off hunting and that is a big ler sea lio developed and implemented after are compared to old higher numbers concern," Alex added. "A minimal hunt turns down injunction consultation with the Marine Mammal which have not been adjusted to the is important to us - whether it is just two (Continued from page 1) Commission and the appropriate federal revised methodology. or fourteen whales." agencies after notice and opportunity Bering Sea jeopardizes Stellersea lions and their habitat. The fishing industry for public comment. sharply disagrees with the federal "We haven't closed the door on an "We need to tag more whales so we can see where they In an order released by the U.S. opinion and has called for more Endangered Species Act listing," said District Court last month, the Alaska go in the winter. Biologists believe the belugas live only "We believe this plan was research. The Steller has been listed as Mike Payne, Assistant Regional Forest Association was granted stand- adopted illegally and we endangered under the Endangered Administrator for Protected Resources, in Cook Inlet, but we believe that is not the case. They ing to bring suit against the federal Species Act after its population nose- for NMFS. "A listing will at least, in part, government over its revision of the will continue to pursue the are trying to declare this stock unique and it isn't." dived over the past decade. be determined by the results of the Tongass Land Management Plan last Dan Alex, Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council matter in court." NMFS worked with the North Pa- 1999 surveys," Payne noted. "What we - spring. Overruling strenuous objections cific Fisheries Management Council to believeto be the immediatethreat, which by the Department of Justice, the Court - Jack Phelps, AFA impose emergency measures last year is overharvest, has been temporally Alex and other Alaska Natives Alex was also critical of the influ- said it has reviewed the record and and again this summer to curtail or resolved." believe the whales migrate into Cook ence environmental groups have had concludes that the AFA has standing to The court found that AFA had close fishing in sea lion critical habitat According to NMFS, hunters killed Inlet to feed on fish and go elsewhere on the issue. "We almost reached a co- challenge the modifications to the 'raised substantial questions regarding areas and to break the fishing season an average of 78 belugas each year when stocks in the upper Inlet are down. management agreement at the end of Record of Decision (ROD). the Assistant Secretary's authority and into four periods throughout the year. between 1994 and 1997. "We needto tag more whales so we April until conservationists bummed up I am extremely pleased that the his manner of dealing with the ROD." Environmentalistsdemanded more Some Native leaders believe that can see where they go in the winter," the works," Alex said. "They have now Court has clearly stated that AFA has The order also says that "the Court is restrictions and filed for an injunction, number is in error, claiming that the Alex said. "Biologists believe the achieved their goal of stopping hunting. standing to bring suit in this matter," prepared to find some irreparable injury but the judge ruled that new closures process may have counted some belugas live only in Cook Inlet, but we It's done." said AFA executive director Jack properly alleged by (AFA)." would be premature right now, consid- harvested whales at least twice. Dan believe that is not the case. They are Payne, however, said NMFS fully Phelps. "In our view, that is the most Phelps said the order is encourag- ering the range of sea lion protections Alex, Project Coordinator for the Cook trying to declare this stock unique and it intends to hammer out a co-manage- significant element of the judge's deci- ing because it leaves the door open for already in place and the brevity of this Inlet Marine Mammal Council, says that isn't." ment agreement with Alaska Natives sion. Across the country, the courts are AFA to proceed on its quest for a re- year's remaining season. In July, Zilly while annual harvests have been higher Alex expressed concern with the and has set a goal of reaching a positive realizing that real people are harmed by mand of the forest plan. ruled that the emergency measures than what environmentalists and federal proposed depleted listing, fearing it will outcome in the year 2000. extreme applications of various federal "We believe this plan was adopted might be adequate, but that NMFS had biologists prefer, "it was no where near remove incentives for federal officials "We will be working on a co- environmental laws and they have a illegally and we will continue to pursue failed to properly explain its actions as what NMFS is reporting." to negotiate in good faith a co-manage- management agreement this winter that right to protection by the courts." the matter in court," Phelps said. Native hunters also challenged the ment agreement with Native hunters. (Ctontinued to page 7) required under the ESA. Page 4 1 RESOURCE REVIEW / October 1999 October 1999 I RESOURCE REVIEW I Page 5