Nome Nugget Newspaper
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Photo by Nils Hahn NOME ATTRACTION— Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus) have moved to lower elevations after having spent much of the winter month at altitude in the hills of the Seward Peninsula where the snow cover is thinner and foraging easier. This herd spent a sunny morning resting up for the day along the Beam Road just outside of Nome. C VOLUME CXII NO. 23 June 7, 2012 Agencies meet with gold seekers Miners protest rule barring mining at river mouths By Sandra L. Medearis suction dredge miners. As of May off for applications was May 30. The what right looks like the first time,” information. About 70 people in various stages 31, the DNR had processed 138 An- offshore lease sale last September Goodrum said. The miners were ready with ques- of gold fever gathered May 31 when nual Placer Mining Applications that made for a unique situation this sea- All the state and federal agency tions after each official had given a state and federal agency reps came to could potentially pertain to the two son with a lot of interest in mining reps that came to town for the meet- spiel on their agency’s particular per- town for a grand meeting with gold state offshore recreational mining the Nome area and a need for infor- ing had some way of influencing suasion. Following the formal pre- seekers to discuss the ins and outs of areas and a total of 159 permits per- mation, Goodrum said. A multiple- their mining efforts from a legal, en- sentations, miners had an mining—within the rules. taining to offshore mining activities agency effort had produced a miner’s vironmental or safety standpoint and opportunity to quiz agencies and air Timing of the meeting made it a in the Nome area, according to Brent guide available at the meeting and on the means to back it up. beefs at their particular tables around kick-off information session for the Goodrum, director of DNR Division the DNR Web site. Information sources included the the room at the Mini Convention oncoming mining season and new of Mining, Land and Water. The cut- “We want to paint a picture of U.S. Coast Guard, state Department Center. of Natural Resources, state Depart- A bunch of miners expressed feel- ment of Environmental Conserva- ings ranging from dismay to down- tion, state Dept. of Fish and Game, right frustration with the late Port of Nome and Nome Police addition of a rule to be newly en- Dept. forced that keeps dredges half a mile Mayor Denise Michels opened the away—year around—from the meeting with a welcome to all, urg- mouths of rivers serving anadro- ing that miners not look upon agen- cies as enemies, but as sources of continued on page 5 Crowley gives Bonanza gas By Sandra L. Medearis Bonanza contracted with Vitus Bonanza Fuel’s unleaded gas de- Marine to deliver fuel with the livered short of last barge season ex- Renda under escort of the USCG pectations has run out. However, icebreaker Healy after the final Delta Bonanza customers will still be able Western delivery did not arrive. Bo- to load up and get gas on the way out nanza and Delta Western are in court of town this weekend. Crowley has currently where Bonanza is suing surplus available for Bonanza to buy Delta Western for $1.5 million. What or borrow. Bonanza says it had to spend extra to Bonanza received only 1.3 million get the dramatic winter fuel delivery gallons of fuel in a winter icebreaker to Nome, cracking through about delivery against an original expecta- 300 miles of iced-up seas. Delta tion of 1.6 million gallons in its last Western said it could not deliver the delivery by Delta Western, Jason fuel because of a November storm. Evans, head of Sitnasuak Native “We are extremely low on some Corp., said. Bonanza is SNCs wholly of our products because we were not Photo by Sandra Medearis owned fuel retail subsidiary. The able to get our full delivery,” Evans THEY’VE SEEN IT ALL—Long-time local miners, Jan Kralik, Norm Stiles and Jim Hanson, enjoy a bit Russian icebreaker class tanker said. He confirmed Monday that Bo- of joshing and likely swap some fibs at the May 31 state and federal agency meeting with miners at Mini Renda was able to pick up only nanza would be trucking gasoline in Convention Center. About 75 people including agency reps attended the confab. 300,000 gallons of unleaded gaso- line at Dutch Harbor. continued on page 4 Local offshore mining permit: R.I.P. By Sandra L. Medearis City Manager Josie Bahnke sug- draft. June 13 Council meeting, Josie Council expanded the number to A local mining permit fee to re- gested the Nome Common Council In a strong wind, “Belmont Point Bahnke, city manager, said. If the nine. Councilman Stan Andersen dis- cover costs generated by the summer table the move. Administrating the is going to be dangerous when they amendment passes, craft will be covered that commission members season’s rush to riches offshore permit program would stretch re- drag anchor. It’s going to be a big measured and assigned to harbor or had not been reappointed annually as Nome beaches seems to have died. sources too thin, and there were other piled-up mess,” Atkinson said. “It river when operators do the required the ordinance required. Therefore, The City had proposed a permit pressing issues. Registration at the should be first-come, first-served.” check-in for a permit at the Harbor- the existing seats and the additional costing $500 to $1,000 per season to Port of Nome harbor office would Sam Slivkoff chimed in on the master’s Office. seats came open for appointment. help with extra costs of enforcing help to keep track of who was on the chorus, concerning havoc in the Bel- The Council voted into first read- The Council approved the follow- civil and criminal issues among min- offshore mining areas, Bahnke said. mont Point river area. ing a series of City budgets that will ing applicants: John Handeland, ing tourists touched with gold fever. They agreed. “I can park my boat and by the be subject to further deliberation by Cussy Kauer, Charlene Saclamana, Several miners spoke during pub- time I get there, it could be high on the Council and public hearing be- Ron Engstrom and Charles Lean, all lic comment period concerning rules the bank,” he said. “I could kill three fore final passage: general fund incumbents, plus: Ann Whipple, On the Web: for using the Port of Nome. A rule to to four days, depending on how high budget, based on 11 mills, $10.587 Richard Beneville, Howard Farley come before the Council for ap- it is.” million; construction capital projects and Councilwoman Josie Stiles. www.nomenugget.net proval June 13 calls for dredges and Several council members com- budget, $831,811; special revenue In other action, the Council: E-mail: other gold seeking craft with 20-inch mented later in the week that rules fund budget, $333,732; capital proj- • Passed a resolution awarding a bid [email protected] or shallower draft to use the Snake had to allow fair use of the Port fa- ects budget, $16.45 million; and Port for the purchase of the City of Nome River for moorage, leaving harbor cilities, with consideration for resi- of Nome fund budget, $6.4 million. Ambulance Garage to Kevin Busk space for larger craft to alleviate dents who use the port to make a Copies of the budget are available for $122,500. crowding during the fishing, mining living year after year and also pay for the public; meetings concerning • Approved a fee waiver for Nome and freight season. taxes in Nome. the budgets are open to the public. Youth Facility to use Old St. Joe’s for “That rule doesn’t hold water with The Council just had the first read- Fifteen people applied for nine po- an art show. seamanship and draft,” Vern Atkin- ing—the second public hearing and sitions open on the Nome Museum • Denied Dept. of Natural Resources son told the Council. Some very final vote on the harbor and river and Library Commission. Until re- large vessels don’t have 20 inches moorage separation occur at the cently the panel had five seats. The continued on page 4 2 THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Letters Dear Editor, 1,000 miles away that we can no on this land for 1,000 of years is over I heard other dogs barking and I was I am attaching my picture, but Some of the people in our com- longer be trusted to manage the herd and good riddance. Finding out afraid those dogs would get hurt. none captured the look I got from an munity were outraged when we and they need to turn it over to some- about something like this by reading I love musk ox, but not that close agitated musk ox at my front door! opened last week’s paper and learned body from outside our community. about it in the paper is an insult. Let- and not when it endangered my dog Carolyn McDougald for the first time from a notice in the That would be bad enough but to ting us know that BIA and Kawerak in my yard. Nome, AK paper that the Bureau of Indian Af- find out about it by reading that the think nobody in Teller is capable of fairs, without talking to anybody in deal was already carved in stone managing the herd is another insult.