alaskaconservation.org  · Web viewand members of the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad for an all-day backcountry session from 8am to 4pm. This course is geared to all winter backcountry

**Mark new items in this issue.

January 20, 2012Compiled Weekly by Peg TilestonOn behalf of the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network (AWEN), Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE), and Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA)

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, TRAINING

Throughout the 2012 Summer SeasonSTATE-WIDE – ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC’S 2012 FIELD SEMINARS have been announced and are open for registration at www.alaskageographic.org. These low-cost hands-on outdoor seminars guide participants in some of the most spectacular locations in Alaska. Alongside scientists and naturalists participants explore topics such as wolves, geology, birds, climate change, and landscape painting. Professional development credit is available for each course. Register today, Alaska Geographic members receive a 10% discount. For additional information or to register, visit www.murieslc.org or call 907-683-1269.

Throughout the 2012 Summer SeasonSTATE-WIDE - ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC’S 2012 TEACHER TRAININGS are open for registration. These uniquely hands-on and pertinent-topic workshops have teachers fully immersed in the subjects. In southeast Alaska on the Tongass National Forest teachers can kayak with whales, walk in the footsteps of bears or study glaciers. In Denali, teachers will explore the effects of climate change, study bears and learn to use iMovie as a tool to communicate science. Professional development credit is included in each course. Register today at www.alaskageographic.org, Alaska Geographic members receive a 10% discount or go to www.murieslc.org or call907-683-1269.

**January 25Admiralty Island’s FORTRESS OF THE BEARS will be show on local PBS stations on Nature. Check your local TV schedule for the time. (KTOO - Juneau is 8pm; KAKM - Anchorage is 7pm).

January 24 - 27ANCHORAGE - INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC HALIBUT COMMISSION (IPHC) ANNUAL MEETING will be held at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel. For more information, go to http://www.iphc.int/meetings-and-events/annual-meeting.html.

January 28KETCHIKAN - AVALANCHE AWARENESS FIELD TRIP: Join Avalanche forecaster TOM MATTICE and members of the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad for an all-day backcountry session from 8am to 4pm. This course is geared to all winter backcountry enthusiasts such as snowmachiners, skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and hikers. Training topics will include introduction to avalanche tools, emergency procedures, companion rescue, hazard assessment, trip planning and route selection. Location will be weather dependent and pre-registration is required; contact Tom Mattice at (907) 209-9207 or [email protected].

January 30 - February 4NOME - MARINE SAFETY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING (MSIT) will be held at the Northwestern Alaska Career and Education Center (NACTEC) by the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). This intensive 48-hour, six-day program (8am to 8pm) is designed to train individuals to

effectively teach cold-water survival procedures and marine safety in their communities to subsistence and commercial fisherman, children, and other community members. Cost is $495.00 for AMSEA members $550.00 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. The MSIT course is a premier train-the-trainer course and is U.S. Coast Guard accepted. Students successfully completing the course will also be certified to teach WaterWise, a recreational safe boating course offered through the Alaska Office of Boating Safety. Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard will be present to provide current marine safety regulations applicable to subsistence and commercial fisherman. A limited number of scholarships to help with tuition, food and lodging are available for individuals in the Norton Sound region who are in a position to provide safety training in their community, thanks to funding from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the U.S. Coast Guard, and AMSEA. Please see our web site www.amsea.org for more information and to register, or call Jerry Dzugan at AMSEA at 907-747-3287 or email [email protected].

February 1 - 3JUNEAU - CROSS BOUNDARY DATA INTEGRATION WORKSHOP II will be held at the UAS Egan Building - Glacier View Room, The ACRC will hold a second workshop to develop cross-boundary geospatial and climate data sets in support of regional conservation applications in the coastal temperate rainforest zone of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia. This project will continue to facilitate planning sessions and forums on technical development of standardized datasets and will formalize a platform for coordination of data exchange and dissemination via the Southeast Alaska GIS Library. In addition, this workshop will establish a plan for future analytical efforts in which cross-boundary datasets are utilized to address critical and regional conservation applications such as connectivity and dispersal, carbon budget allocation, and climate change vulnerabilities. For agenda information, go to http://acrc.alaska.edu/acrc_sw/workshops/data_integration_2_files/draft_agenda. For more information, contact http://acrc.alaska.edu/contact.html.

February 6 - 10ANCHORAGE - The ALASKA FORUM ON THE ENVIRONMENT will be held at the Dena’ina Center. The agenda is available at http://akforum.com/agenda.htm and registration information is located at http://akforum.com/register.html. For general information, go to http://akforum.com/.

February 13 & 14JUNEAU - 2012 ALASKA YOUNG FISHERMEN'S SUMMIT: WEAVING A NETWORK OF FUTURE FISHING LEADERS will be held at St. Ann's Parish Hall. In addition to providing crucial training and networking opportunities for fishermen entering the business or wishing to take a leadership role in their industry, we will also take advantage of the Juneau location by introducing participants to the legislative process, and introducing the fish caucus of the legislature to the issues and concerns of Alaska’s emerging fishermen. The conference will address four main topics: The nuts and bolts of managing the financial aspects of a successful fishing business, Methods for participating in the fisheries regulatory and Alaska legislative processes, The role of Alaskan seafood in the world marketplace, and The science and management of our sustainable fisheries. Limited travel scholarships are available. Complete the application form and send to [email protected] by 5:00 pm on January 20. Contact Sunny Rice at 907-772-3381 with questions. Summit information. Agenda is available at http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/2012/ayfs/agenda.php For registration, go to http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/2012/ayfs/registration.php For more information, contact Sunny Rice at [email protected] or 907-772-3381 or Torie Baker at [email protected] or 907-424-7542.

February 15 (RESCHEDULED from January 11)The INSTITUTE of the NORTH ARCTIC POLICY FORUM will be held from 5 to 7pm in the Voth Hall, Performing Arts Center featuring a compelling panel discussion of the history, current issues, and

future plans of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) in Alaska. followed by a Q&A from the floor. Join us on Wednesday, January 11 when, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, the APF will host panel presentations and discussion, followed by Q&A from the floor. Immediately afterward guests will be invited to a reception, from 7:00 to 8:00pm, where they will have the opportunity to connect with one another and with the featured speakers in an informal setting. Moderated by Consul PETER TAYLOR (Canada), the program will feature: JOSEPH JOCKEL, author of No Boundaries Upstairs: Canada, the US, and the Origins of the North American Air Defence, 1945-1958 (tentative); COLONEL DANIEL CONSTABLE, Deputy Commander Alaska Region NORAD HQ (confirmed); TREY FULLER, JBER (invited); and CAPTAIN JOEL JUNGEMANN, U.S. Navy, (invited). Cost: $20. To register, go to https://institutenorth.org/calendar/events/january-arctic-policy-forum-norad.

Feb 17-18SOLDOTNA - FIRE IN ALASKA! course will be held at Skyview High School. The exciting, interdisciplinary Fire in Alaska K-12 curriculum is designed to engage and inspire students to learn about all aspects of fire, including fire ecology, fire behavior, and how to live safely in the wildland-urban interface. This intensive workshop includes content, lesson modeling, interactive activities and laboratory simulations. Participants gain their own copies of the curriculum, which is being used all over Alaska. Fire in Alaska workshops are sponsored by the Alaska Division of Forestry and are available for continuing education credit through Kenai Peninsula College Cost is $20 for materials, plus a credit fee of $94. To sign up please contact Lilly Goodman-Allwright at [email protected].

**February 21 ~ 23HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN for ANCHORAGE’S FOUR ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOODS PUBLIC WORKSHOPS and MEETINGS. will be held on the following dates and locations:

February 21 - DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA PUBLIC WORKSHOP (Businesses and Residents) from 4:30 to 6pm in the Anchorage City Hall, Room 155, Free parking is available behind City Hall.

February 21 - SOUTH ADDITION COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA PUBLIC WORKSHOP from 6:30 to 8pm in the Denali Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room, 952 Cordova Street. Free parking is available in the school parking lot.

February 22 - NATIVE CULTURAL OUTREACH MEETING from 1 to 3:30pm.at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Athabascan Ceremonial House, 8800 Heritage Drive. Please call 907.330.8000 for information or directions. Free parking is available in the Alaska Native Heritage Center parking lot.

February 22 - GOVERNMENT HILL COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA PUBLIC WORKSHOP from 6:30 to 8pm at the Government Hill Elementary School, 525 Bluff Drive. Free parking is available in the school parking lot.

February 23 -HPP TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING f rom 4:30 to 6pm in the Fairview Community Recreation Center Meeting Room, 1121 East 10th Avenue. Free parking is available in the Center parking lot.

February 23 - FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA PUBLIC WORKSHOP from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Fairview Community Recreation Center, Multi-Purpose Room, 1121 East 10th Avenue. Free parking is available in the Recreation Center parking lot.You are invited to attend workshops and meetings to review and provide new comments on the draft goals and opportunities developed from over 750 comments received from neighborhoods, Native Cultural groups, agencies and interested parties during public meetings held in October 2011, for the Historic Preservation Plan for Anchorage’s four original neighborhoods (HPP). ALL WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! For more information, contact: Kristine Bunnell, HPP Project Manager, at 907.343.7993 or [email protected].

**February 23 -26PALMER - PLANTING BUSINESS SUCCESS: 2012 BUSINESS PLANNING CONFERENCE will be held at the Palmer Train Depot. The conference will give you tools for farming in Alaska , whether you are just starting your farming venture or looking to retire. This conference will cover, step-by-step: • Developing goals, • Business planning for profit, • Putting the plan on paper, • Transfer planning, • Effective decision making, • Retirement planning, • Succession Planning, and • Estate Planning. -COST- $35.00 per attendee. After the conference, Alaska Farmland Trust will continue to follow up with you and continue the development of your business or succession plan. This conference is limited to 70 participants, so register early! Contact project director John Collins at 907-745-3336 or 907-715-7497 for more information. or mail registration information to 248 E Dahlia Ave, Palmer, Alaska 99654.

**February 27 & 28HOMER - PLANNING FOR MEANINGFUL EVALUATION will be held from 9am to 5pm at the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Want to increase your program or project accountability and impact? This 2-day Coastal Services Center class will actively engage participants in creating a comprehensive evaluation plan. This is a follow-up class to ‘Program Design & Evaluation’, however, those who have created & used logic models are also encouraged to participate in this class. For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Megan Murphy at [email protected] or 907-226-4659. RSVP by February 13th to reserve your seat.

WEBINARS, WEBCASTS & TELECONFERENCES

January 31AN UPDATED PRECIPITATION FREQUENCY ANALYSIS FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA will be held from 10 to 11am Alaska Local Time. DOUG KANE and SVETA STUEFER, Water and Environmental Research Center, UAF will lead the discussion. To hear the audio presentation during a webinar: 1) With a regular telephone dial: 1- (877) 594-8353 and 2) When prompted, enter the Participant passcode: 83847342. Please mute your phone and do not put phone on hold. To view the presentation during a webinar: 1) Point your web browser to: http://infiniteconferencing.com/Events/accap/, 2) Enter Participant Code 83847342. 3) Enter the rest of the requested information (The name and organization you enter will be seen by other participants, but your contact information will remain confidential), and 4) Click the blue "log-in" button.

**February 1 (TELECONFERENCE)The EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL TRUSTEE COUNCIL will meet by teleconference from 9:30a.m to 12:30pm at the EVOS office, 441 W 5th Ave, Ste 500. To participate, call 800.315.6338, code 8205. For more information, call:907.278.8012 or 800.478.7745 or go to www.evostc.state.ak.us.

**February 13 (WEBINAR)ALASKA AND THE NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT: THE ALASKA TECHNICAL REPORT will be held from 10-11am with CARL MARKON, US Geological Survey; and SARAH TRAINOR, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. The National Climate Assessment (NCA) provides a current report of climate change impacts and vulnerability, evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation activities, identifies knowledge gaps, and helps the federal government prioritize climate science investments. It provides the science that can be used by communities around our Nation to create a more sustainable and environmentally-sound plan for our future. Alaska will contribute one of eight Regional Assessment to be included in the 2013 NCA. The purpose of the presentation is to present a draft of the 2013 Alaska Technical Report, and seek public feedback. To hear the audio presentation during a webinar: 1) With a regular telephone dial: 1- (877) 594-8353; 2) When prompted,

enter the Participant passcode: 83847342. Please mute your phone during the presentation and don’t put them on hold. To view the presentation during a webinar: 1) Point your web browser to: http://infiniteconferencing.com/Events/accap/, 2) Enter Participant Code 83847342. 3) Enter the rest of the requested information (The name and organization you enter will be seen by other participants, but your contact information will remain confidential), 4) Click the blue "log-in" button

**February 15 (TELECONFERENCE SEMINAR)COAL'S ASSAULT ON HUMAN HEALTH will be held from 9 to 10am as part of the Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment teleconference seminar series. At every stage – from mining, transportation, storage, combustion, and disposal of post-combustion wastes – coal development threatens human health. Pollutants from coal damage all major organ systems in the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. Guest Presenter ALAN H. LOCKWOOD, MD will discuss the growing body of medical evidence linking coal development to human health risks. Dr. Lockwood is principal author of the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) report "Coal's Assault on Human Health" which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. For more information, or to join this FREE call and receive the dial-up instructions, please RSVP to ACAT at [email protected] or (907) 222-7714.

GRANTS/AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS/CONTESTS

The NOAA RESTORATION CENTER AND ALASKA CLEAN HARBORS are working with communities in Alaska affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill to ADDRESS WATER QUALITY AND MARINE HABITAT ISSUES, AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS..But we need your help to know what is needed and where to do the work. Right now, we need project ideas and community partners and very soon we will be looking for project proposals (to receive up to $250,000 for qualified improvements). The first step is to IDENTIFY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. If you are, or know of a group that may be, interested in future funding opportunities to address water quality and marine habitat issues in communities affected by Exxon Valdez oil spill, please contact us by filling out a general information form found on our website. Please help us spread the word by attending our public scoping meetings and by passing out this informational material to other interested groups you may know. For more information about this funding opportunity and which communities may qualify please visit our website http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/evos/. Please contact Erika Ammann by email at [email protected], Laurel Jennings at [email protected] , Erika Ammann at [email protected], or Eric Rothwell at [email protected] or by going to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/.

January 23Deadline for submitting proposals for EPA URBAN WATERS SMALL GRANTS to fund projects across the country to help restore urban waters by improving water quality and supporting community revitalization. The funding is part of EPA’s Urban Waters program, which supports communities in their efforts to access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land. The goal of the Urban Waters Small Grants program is to fund research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities such as public health, social and economic opportunities, general livability and environmental justice for residents. Information about Urban Waters Small Grants including the Request for Proposal (RFP) and registration links for the webinars is available at http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding. EPA expects to award the grants in Summer 2012. Questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail [email protected] and must be received by the Agency Contact, Ji-Sun Yi, by January 16, and written responses will be posted

on EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding. Webinars about this funding opportunity will be held on December 14 and January 5. For more information on EPA’s Urban Waters program, to http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters\fs22fs22 and http://urbanwaters.gov.

January 26Deadline for application for the Trout Unlimited (TU) and NOAA FISH HABITAT RESTORATION GRANT. Please read the RFP at http://www.tu.org/sites/www.tu.org/files/documents/final_tu-noaa_rfp_yr2%20%281%29.doc for details about the funding opportunity. If you have questions please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. All proposals must also have a letter of support from Trout Unlimited so please contact Mark Kaelke with TU AK at 907-321-4464 or email [email protected] when you have your project idea.

February 10Deadline for application for the NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD (NPRB) GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS. These awards are given to encourage students to pursue scientific and scholarly research that addresses management issues in northern seas. In May 2012, NPRB will award up to six Graduate Student Research Awards (GSRAs) of $25,000 each to three qualified masters students and three doctoral students for the opportunity to address scientific, technological, and socio-economic issues relating to the research themes identified in the 2005 NPRB Science Plan. Students must be enrolled in or accepted by a graduate degree program at an accredited university or college by February 10, 2012. There is no US citizenship requirement to be eligible for this award and applications are welcome from students attending US or non-US universities. The graduate research topic must be relevant to the research themes and issues identified in the 2005 NPRB Science Plan and occur in Alaskan marine waters. Please see the 2012 GSRA guidelines at http://nprb.org/education/documents/2012GSRAdetailsandguidelines_14Oct11_final_001.pdf for further details of the application requirements.

Early February Deadline for application for the 2013 NATIONAL SEA GRANT KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP for ALASKA GRADUATE STUDENTS. This unique national fellowship provides eligible graduate students with one year of paid experience in Washington, D.C., working on ocean issues with a U.S. Congressional staff or with an executive branch resource management agency. The fellowship has proven to be a great launching pad to exciting careers in government, education, business, and non-profit enterprises. The fellowship is open to graduate students in all disciplines who have a keen interest in the nation’s marine policy and ocean resource management. Included in the 2012 group of fellows are students completing degrees in law, agriculture, public administration, geology, and geophysics, as well as fisheries, oceanography, zoology, biology, economics, policy, and other fields. Soon after the holidays, Alaska Sea Grant will begin recruiting exceptional students from around the state to apply for the 2013 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. To get the word out, we have produced a YouTube video that features testimonials from former Knauss Fellows. Watch the video at http://seagrant.uaf.edu/research/knauss.html. Alaska graduate students considering applying for the fellowship or seeking more information should contact Dr. David Christie, Director, Alaska Sea Grant Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, [email protected] or call 907-474-7949.

The ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM provides one year Community Environmental Demonstration Project Grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 to local environmental projects that improve health and the environment throughout rural Alaska communities. Funding is made possible through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Tribal Multi-media Program. ANTHC has awarded over $300,000 since 2009. For FY12 ANTHC and Zender Environmental will be partnering to provide Community Environmental Demonstration Project Grants to rural Alaska communities. For more information, go to http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/hve/upload/CEDP-rfp-final.docx.

March 9Deadline for Request for Proposal (RFP) for a synthesis of EXISTING SCIENTIFIC and TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE related to marine ecosystem structure and function, including humans (i.e. biological, physical, sociological, traditional, etc.) from the CHUKCHI and BEAUFORT SEAS and the BERING STRAIT NORTH of ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, as well as an identification of research needs to help plan potential, upcoming research programs by the North Pacific Marine Research Institute, NPRB, NSF, and other organizations. For more information please see http://arctic.nprb.org/.

March 30Deadline for submissions for the ALASKA HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL JURIED ART SHOW. "Call for Artists" features opportunities for Alaskan artists of all ages and abilities to showcase their work at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Kecthikan from April through May 2012. The mission of the Alaska Hummingbird Festival and this art show is to educate and promote awareness of the spring migratory birds of southeast Alaska. Please review the above attachment for more detail. Submit your work to Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. 50 Main Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901, C/O Hummingbird Festival. Mailed entries must include return postage payable to Alaska Geographic Associations. For more information, contact Leslie Swada at 907.617.7746.

March 31Deadline for submissions for the 2012 ALASKA STATE-FISH ART CONTEST from K-12 students. Educators can download a free curriculum and learn how to use art as a springboard into the fascinating world of fish. K-12 students can draw, paint, and write their way to free prizes, fishing gear, and national recognition while getting to know Alaska’s state fish! Visit this webpage for more information: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/fish/contest_art.htm.

DEADLINES

**January 26Deadline for comment on the proposal to issue a permit for the proposal to run a 2000 MILE PERSONAL WATERCRAFT RACE FROM WHITTIER TO ILIAMNA. The ALASKAN WET DOG RACE has put together a 46-page proposal and application seeking a land use permit from the AK Dept. of Natural Resources to run the race in state waters in April and May of 2013. Checkpoints are planned for Valdez, Cordova, Chenega, Seward, Anchor Point, Kenai, Port William, Kodiak, Old Harbor, Akhiok, Chignik, Perryville, Sandpoint, Cold Bay, False Pass, Port Moller, Port Heiden, Egegik, Naknek, and Igiugig. If issued, the permit will be valid from February 1, 2012 through January 31, 2017, used seasonally from April 1 through June 30 of each year. For more information, go to http://wetdograce.com/welcome/. For additional information or to submit comments, contact Candice Snow at 907-269-8569 or email [email protected].

January 27 (EXTENDED from DECEMBER 28)Deadline for comments on Corps of Engineers permit REQUEST FROM KNIK ARM BRIDGE and TOLL AUTHORITY (KABATA). The proposed project would be between the northwestern edge of the Port MacKenzie District, where a NEW ROAD (Phase 1) is proposed to diverge from the existing Port MacKenzie Road at Milepost (MP) 9.5. It would cross primarily uplands north of Lake Lorraine, heading in a southerly direction to the west bluff of Knik Arm and then end on the eastern side of the Port MacKenzie District. Approximately 7,200 feet north of Port MacKenzie Dock and 1,700 feet south of Anderson Dock. The bridge roadway embankment on the Mat-Su side. The 9,200-foot bridge would span east across Knik Arm to the Anchorage side and would reach the shoreline approximately 1.5 miles north of Cairn Point. The roadway would follow the Anchorage shoreline and western perimeter of the Joint

Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) at the bottom of the bluff south to Cairn Point. From the vicinity of Cairn Point, the Anchorage approach would continue south, closely following the natural shoreline, then climbs in grade along the eastern boundary of the Port of Anchorage. In the vicinity of the Cherry Hill bluff, the roadway would climb slightly on a fill supported by retaining walls at the base of the bluff to provide grade separation for security and operational purposes between the roadway and the edge of the Port of Anchorage property. From this point, the roadway would follow the alignment of Erickson Street via a cut-and-cover tunnel to end on East Loop Road, the terminus of the project where it would connect to the A and C Street Couplet. The total discharge of fill into waters of the U.S., including wetlands, is proposed to be 2,697,349 cubic yards into 78.31 acres. Fill would be discharged into the intertidal wetlands and waters of Knik Arm to provide structural fill for construction of the approach roads and bridge abutments in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Mat-Su) and the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). Structural fill would be discharged into freshwater wetlands on both sides of Knik Arm for construction of the project roadways. In addition, 1.28 acres of wetlands would be impacted by the temporary discharge of fill. For more information, see the entire permit request at http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/reg/PN_Scanned/2011%20November/POA-2005-97.pdf. Notice is hereby given that the application for a Dept. of the Army Permit described in the Corps of Engineers’ Public Notice No. COA-2005-97, Knik Arm, serves as application for State Water Quality Certification from the Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation. For more information or to submit comments, contact Mary Lee Plumb-Mentjes at (907) 753-2789, toll-free from within Alaska at (800) 478-2712, by fax at (907) 279-0064, or email [email protected].

**January 30KETCHIKAN - Comments are due on the proposal to issue an AK POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (APDES) PERMIT to discharge to water of the U.S. for the KETCHIKAN SHIPYARD (KSY) owned by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). ASD provides ship maintenance and building services and consist of two drydocks, and upland berth and associated infrastructure. There are three (3) outfalls associated with the facility. Outfall 001 is the primary outfall and has an authorized mixing zone associated with it. Outfall 001 discharges drydock deck water, treated to remove metals associated with high pressure wash water, abrasive blasting. The Outfall 001 pipe extends from the pier to Tongass Narrows between the facility and Ketchikan Airport. A diffuser is connected to the end of the pipe to facilitate dilution. The typical volume of discharge is 2000 gallons to 20,000 gallons per discharge episode. The mixing zone associated with Outfall 001 is a 110 meter radius centered over the diffuser extending from the seafloor to the surface of the water. Outfall 002 consists of ballast water and is discharged directly into Tongass Narrows via hoses hung over either side of each drydock(s). Outfall 003 is floodwater that consists of receiving water that comes into contact with work surfaces during the submergence of the drydock interior work surfaces. A draft individual permit, fact sheet and associated documents are available at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wwdp/PublicNotice.htm#A3. For more information or to submit comments, contact Marc Bentley at 907-269-66287 or email [email protected].

EVENTS & MEETINGS \ANCHORAGE - EAGLE RIVER & GIRDWOOD

**January 24TAPPING INTO GEOTHERMAL HEAT: GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS IN ALASKA will be held from 5:30 to 6:30pm at ACHP, 3400 Spenard Road, Suite 9. Learn why ground source heat pump can be highly efficient option with low operating costs for your next building project. CHUCK RENFRO, ACHP instructor and past executive director, will explain how heat pumps work and answer questions about the systems and how their installation. FREE. For more information, contact Kate McKeown at 907.258.6180 or email [email protected].

**January 25CROSSCURRENTS 2011: ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING and ACTIVISM ON-STAGE CONVERSATION with THREE ALASKA AUTHORS will be held at 7pm at .Out North (3800 Debarr Road). Join Alaska writers NANCY LORD, MARYBETH HOLLEMAN, and CHARLES WOHLFORTH for an onstage conversation about environmental writing, writing as a form of activism, and their experiences as writers concerned with global oil-reliance and climate change. Wohlforth will moderate this lively discussion with reference to Lord's new book, Early Warming: Crisis and Response from the Climate-Changed North and the paperback release of Holleman's The Heart of the Sound: Paradise Found and Nearly Lost. A question and answer session and book-signing will follow. There is no charge for the event, but a $5 donation is suggested. For more information, go to www.49writingcenter.org.

January 25OCCUPY ANCHORAGE, U.S. AND THE WORLD will be discussed from 5 to 7pm at the UAA Bookstore by DAWN BONFIELD and MARK BONFIELD. For more information, contact Rachel Epstein, Events Co-ordinator, at [email protected] or (907) 786-4782.

January 27ALASKA STATE PARKS TO HOST ART SHOW in conjunction with the ALASKA ARTISTS GUILD, will be holding an art show at Blaines Art Supply from 5 to 7pm. The show will feature works by artists that participated in the ART IN THE PARK event titled “Camp, Canoe, and Create” held this past August in Denali State Park. For more information contact David Griffin at 269-8696, or [email protected].

MEETINGS & EVENTS OUT OF ANCHORAGE

**Now through February 25JUNEAU - A FOREST of WORDS: YOUTH VOICES CELEBRATE the TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST is showing at the Tongass Historical Museum. This is an exhibit featuring forest-inspired art and words created by area school children, with works by nature artist ANDIE THRAMS and marvel at the metal sculpture cedar tree designed by Ketchikan artist RICH STAGE.

January 20 & 21 (UPDATED INFORMATION)FAIRBANKS - INTERIOR ALASKA GREEN STAR is pleased to announce that ALL electronics will be accepted for FREE at the ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DEPOT in January, thanks to a generous grant from the FNSB Recycling Commission. The Depot will be open to collect old and unwanted electronics for recycling. Collections are held at the Alaska Waste Recycling Center, 3050 Phillips Field Road (west of Peger Road) from 10am to 4pm both days. More information about this and other recycling programs can be found at www.iagreenstar.org, or contact us at [email protected] or 452-4152.

**January 21NORTH POLE - FIREWOOD WORKSHOP will be held at 310am at the Chena Flood Control Project on Laurance Road. The workshop will cover the latest information on firewood harvesting, wood stove and chainsaw maintenance, drying wood, different wood species' properties, wood heating efficiency, the borough's wood stove replacement program and more. Free. For more information contact Jessica Guritz at 479-1213 or email [email protected]. **January 21 & 22

PETERSBURG - PETERSBURG FISH AND GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AND ELECTIONS will be held at 6:30 at the Petersburg City Council Chambers both days. Elections will be held on Saturday. There are up to 15 seats open for election/re-election. Anyone interested in serving on this committee is encouraged to attend. Following elections, the Petersburg AC will be discussing upcoming Board of Fisheries Southeast Finfish issues. On Sunday, the Committee will continue with their discussion of upcoming Board of Fisheries Southeast Finfish issues If you are interested in any of the issues on the table you are highly encouraged to attend this meeting. As always, this meeting is open to the public. For more information, Shannon Stone, ADF&G Regional Coordinator, at 907-723.5685

January 21 & 22DENALI NATIONAL PARK - Park rangers invite the public to join them in exploring the park on weekend hikes this winter. The hikes will be done on snowshoes when snow conditions arefavorable. Hikers will meet at 1pm at the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC), located at Mile 1.3 on the Park Road just west of the traffic circle. The hikes will take place on trails in the park’s entrance area, providing opportunities to experience and learn about the winter environment of the park and interior Alaska. A limited number of snowshoes are available for use during the hike, and those interested in participating are encouraged to bring their own equipment. The hikes will last for 2 to 3 hours. Participants are advised to dress warmly and bring lunch or snacks. The hikes will not take place if temperatures are colder than -10ºF. The Murie Science and Learning Center is a source of information and inspiration for winter visitors wishing to experience and learn more about the park. A winter trails map depicting ski and snowshoe routes of varying difficulties and lengths is available for those who want to explore the park on their own. Plug-ins are available in the parking lot. The MSLC is opendaily from 9am to 4pm. Denali National Park and Preserve collects an entrance fee year-round. Theentrance fee of $10 per person is good for seven days (visitors age 15 or younger are free).Interagency Federal Recreation Passes such as the Annual, Senior, and Access Pass, and the Denali Annual Pass are also valid for entry into the park and can be purchased at the MSLC. Additional information on winter activities is available at www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/winter-activities.htm or by calling (907) 683-9532 from 9am to 4pm.

**January 22HOMER - FORKS OVER KNIVES has been re-scheduled for 2:30 pm with doors opening at 2:00 at the Homer Theatre. Once again admission is by donation and includes heart-healthy snacks. There will be discussion and CHIP info afterwards.

**January 23WASILLA - WASILLA SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD will meet at 10am at the Wasilla SWCD Office. Cooperators and the public are encouraged to attend. Proposed agenda: Dennis De Young cooperator agreement, Glen Holt resignation letter, Election results, Election of officers, Envirothon letter, and Review Pt. MacKenzie railroad route. There will be an opportunity for public comment. For more information, please contact Carolyn Weimer, District Manager, at 357-4563 ext. 103 or email [email protected].

January 23HOMER - The HOMER FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold its election meeting at 6pm at the NERSS building on Kachemak Bay Drive. Also on the agenda will be discussion of BOF statewide shellfish issues. For more information contact Marv Peters at 235-2468.

January 24TANANA - The TANANA RAMPART MANLEY FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting in Tanana in a location TBA at 11:30am. Agenda items will include: Tanana Elections-3 Tanana Seats; 1 At large Seat and 3 Alternate seats; Interior BOG Comments; and Draft AYK

BOF proposals. For further information contact Nissa Pilcher at 907.459.7263, Fax 907.459.7258, or email [email protected]

January 24NINILCHIK - The CENTRAL PENINSULA FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold its election meeting at 7 pm at the Ninilchik School. Also on the agenda will be discussion of Board of Game actions taken, discussion of statewide finfish proposals to submit, and discussion of Southcentral game proposals to submit. For more information contact David Martin at 567-3306.

**January 24 & 26SITKA - The SITKA FISH AND GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet Tuesday and Thursday to finish commenting on Fish Board proposals relating to hatchery salmon allocations and non-Sitka herring. They will be having an election to fill the unexpired term for the (resident) sportfish seat at the meeting on the 24. Meetings will begin at 6:30 in the classroom at the Sitka Sound Science center. For further information, please contact Scott Crass, Regional Coordinator, at 465.4046.

**January 24, 31 & February 7PALMER - SLUGS AND BUGS is the topic for the Mat-Su College 3-evening course (Organic Gardening Series) to be held from 6:30 to 8:30pm. What do you do about those pests and molds in your flowers, vegetables, and herbs? Learn effective techniques to prevent and to suppress them—by methods that will not endanger your health or that of your child or dog. Instructors: ELLEN VANDE VISSE and Dr. JEFF SMEENK. Non-credit. Register at www.matsu.alaska.edu or call 907-745-9746 or stop by Mat-Su College on Trunk Rd.

January 25SOLDOTNA - The KENAI/SOLDOTNA FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold its election meeting at the Sports Center in Soldotna at 6:30pm. Also on the agenda will be a review of fish proposals. For more information contact Bill Tappan at 260-6961.

January 25COOPER LANDING - The KENAI/SOLDOTNA FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold its election meeting Wednesday, January 25th at the Sports Center in Soldotna at 6:30 pm. Also on the agenda will be a review of fish proposals. For more information contact Bill Tappan at 260-6961.

January 26KODIAK - Roundtable Events: OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND ALASKA FISHERIES will b held at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (time to be confirmed) to discuss the potential and actual impacts of ocean acidification on Alaska fisheries and livelihoods. Join us to help ensure that the perspectives, experiences and concerns of Alaska fishermen, marine industries and coastal residents are heard and understood as we work to address the impacts of ocean acidification in our waters and communities. Presentation and Roundtable Discussion will be led by Dr. ROBERT FOY. For more information, please contact Rachel Donkersloot at [email protected] or 907-277-5362 or Izetta Chambers at [email protected] or (907) 842-8323.

January 27SEWARD - The SEWARD FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold its election meeting at the Council Chambers at 7pm. Also on the agenda will be discussion of the BOF shellfish proposals. Public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Jim McCracken at 362-3701

January 27

JUNEAU - JUNEAU DOUGLAS FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet at 8:30am in the Centennial Hall, Egan Room. Agenda includes: Elections to Meeting And Elections to fill one Charter fish - freshwater seat and one hunting seat. Following elections, the committee will be discussing the Southeast/Yakutat Finfish proposals to be dealt with by the Board of Fisheries at the meeting in Ketchikan in February. Anyone interested in either serving on the committee or speaking to the committee about any of these issues is highly encouraged to attend this meeting. For further information, please contact Mike Peterson, Chairman, at 723.8369 or Scott Crass, Regional Coordinator, at 907- 465.4046.

January 28KETCHIKAN - AVALANCHE!-- Special two-hour program will be presented from 6 to 8:00pm at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. TOM MATTICE, Emergency Programs Manager and Avalanche Forecaster for the City and Borough of Juneau, will present an overview of Avalanche dynamics. This program is geared toward the public and snow sports enthusiasts and will provide interactive scenarios and hands-on learning for your winter backcountry pursuits.

**January 30, 31 & February 1Open House/Public Meetings will be held at the following location to take comments on the proposal by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ANALYZE the EFFECTS of ISSUING MARINE MAMMAL INCIDENTAL TAKE AUTHORIZATIONS under the MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT.

**January 30 - WAINWRIGHT – from 7 to 9pm at the Wainwright Community Center. **January 31 - BARROW - from 7 to 9pm at the Inupiat Heritage Center.**February 1 - KAKTOVIK - from 7 to 9pm at the Kaktovik Community Center.

These authorizations are issued to the oil and gas industry during offshore exploration activities, such as geophysical seismic surveys or exploratory drilling, that take place in federal and state waters of the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The format for the public meetings will consist of an open house, followed by an opportunity for comments. During the open house, representatives from NMFS, the cooperating agencies, and third-party EIS team will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. Transcripts of the public meetings will be prepared. Comments on the Draft EIS must be received by February 28. Electronic copies of the document and more information are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/arctic.htm. **January 30HUGHES - KOYUKUK RIVER FISH AND GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting at Noon at the Hughes School (this meeting was rescheduled due to weather conditions from December 7). Agenda includes: • 2011 Moose Survey and Harvest Data; • Discussion on IM plan; • Discussion & comment on Proposals before the BOG on Statewide and Interior Issues; • Yukon River Season Update; • Call for Proposals, 2012 Board of Fish; Arctic, Yukon, Kuskokwim BOF to meet in Anchorage next season; ? Proposals due by April 10, 2012; • Hughes Elections; • Election of Representative and Alternate to Interior BOG, March 2-11, 2012 For further information contact Nissa Pilcher at 907.459.7263, Fax 907.459.7258, or email [email protected].

**January 31, February 1, February 2 Public hearings will be held at the following location on request for permit to APPLY PESTICIDES on the RAILROAD RIGHT-of WAY between CLEAR and FAIRBANKS from the ALASKA RAILROAD CORPORATION.

**January 31 - FAIRBANKS - from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Westmark Hotel**February 1 - WASILLA - from 4:30 to 6:30pm at Evangelo’s Restaurant, 2530 East Parks

Highway**February 2 - TALKEETNA - 4:30 to 6:30pm at the North Susitna Institute

The permit request is to apply herbicide to a 16 foot wide strip of the railroad right-of-way on approximately 60 miles of track beginning near Clear and proceeding north to Fairbanks.The proposed products include Aquamaster, with EPA registration number 524-343, with active ingredient glyphosate. This product requires the use of an additive, and the Railroad proposes to use the product Agri-Dex. Aquamaster has the same active ingredient as Roundup and many other home use products, and is approved for both terrestrial and aquatic use. Treatment is proposed for summer months throughout the duration of the permit. The purpose is for vegetation maintenance is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirement, and is necessary to allow track visibility and inspection, prevent tripping hazards, and prevent accelerated deterioration of track components. Other vegetation control methods have not been sufficient to meet FRA and safety requirements. Copies of the application are available at http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/publicnotice.htm. For specific information regarding the application, contact Karin Hendrickson at (907) 376-1856, Fax (907) 376-2382, or email [email protected]. Submit comments to Rebecca Colvin at 907-269-7802, Fax 907-269-7600, or email [email protected].

**January 31FAIRBANKS - ALASKA – AS SEEN FROM AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT will be presented at 7pm in the WestMark Gold Room as part of the Science for Alaska Lecture Series. This lecture will discuss recent, and ongoing unmanned aircraft operations that the University is conducting in Alaska. It will highlight the unique capabilities and limitations of this emerging and rapidly developing technology as well as recent research and systems development that the University has conducted in support of the FAA and others to integrate these aircraft safely into the National Airspace. During the lecture several aircraft platforms that the University operate will be on display. For additional information visit the Science for Alaska Lecture Series website: http://www.uaf.edu/scienceforalaska/fbx-lectures/

**February 1FAIRBANKS - MASTER FOOD PRESERVER WORKSHOP - BASICS will be held from 6 to 9;m at the Food Bank Kitchen, 26th Avenue. Cost $15. Please call 474-2450 to register.

**February 4PALMER - 6TH ANNUAL WINTER FAMILY FUN DAY at REFLECTIONS LAKE will be held from 11am to 3pm at the Knik River Access Exit at Mile 31.5 of the Glenn Highway. Enjoy winter at beautiful Reflections Lake on the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge! Cross-country ski, snowshoe, ice skate, or walk the circular path around the lake. Warming fires, hot cocoa, treats & coffee will keep you toasty as we revel in the beauty of this picturesque lake. What a wonderful place to enjoy the great Alaskan outdoors! Onsite volunteer assistance includes APH partners Alaska Trails & Mat-Su Ski Club. Skis and snowshoes for adults & kids generously provided by R.E.I. Alaska, and skates by the Mat-Su Borough Parks & Rec/Brett Memorial Ice Arena. Skiing, snowshoeing assistance & skating instruction will be available; North America Outdoor Institute will teach avalanche safety. Listed as a National Winter Trails Day event, this is an excellent opportunity to learn about these healthy winter sports and have fun!

ITEMS OF INTEREST

**Are you INTERESTED IN WORKING ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS, FOCUSING YOUR CAREER PATH, MOVING INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD, or INCREASING YOUR ALASKA NETWORK? Then AWEN'S MENTORSHIP PROGRAM may be right for you. Now in its third year, the program matches women in earlier stages of their environmental career or community activism with an experienced female mentor. The nine-month program includes an initial "retreat" day for all participants, followed by opportunities for learning and networking, and monthly meetings with your

mentor. If you have any questions, or are interested in being a mentor please contact us at [email protected] or call Melanie at 440-1964.

**PROTECTING SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA FROM INVASIVE SPECIES – A GUIDE IN THE ENGLISH AND YUP’IK LANGUAGES is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5348027.pdf. The people’s strong sense of stewardship, wealth of traditional knowledge, and limited routes of transportation are key components of preventing invasive species from disrupting the ecosystems of Southwest Alaska. Learning how invasive plants, insects and animals spread and interact with their environment, how other communities have worked to prevent or eradicate them, and what resources exist to help control the spread of exotic organisms may be critical to preserving the landscape and culture for future generations.

**To see a 5 minute video that tells the story of the CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT TANGLE LAKES and to prevent it from becoming home to an industrial, foreign-owned mine, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSor9nKgO-8.

**To TRACK MARINE DEBRIS FROM THE JAPAN TSUNAMI, go to http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html. If you see debris that might be from the tsunami, please report it to [email protected]. Include as accurate a description as possible of what you saw, and where you saw it, as well as the potential linkage to the tsunami.

ALASKA LEADS THE NATION IN TOXIC CHEMICAL RELEASES, with its mining operations producing 90 percent of total in the four-state Pacific Northwest Region. A report from the US Environmental Protection Agency said Alaska produced 835 million pounds of toxic chemicals at 32 facilities statewide. That’s a 20 percent increase, according to the 2010 Toxic Release Inventory. Nationwide, the increase was 16 percent. Alaska’s top source of toxic chemical releases is Red Dog Mine that produces a toxic chemical release total of 777 million pounds. Some 800,000 pounds of arsenic were included in the list 14 different toxic materials released at Red Dog. There were also 300 million pounds of lead compounds and 450 million pounds of zinc compounds at the mine. Other large Alaska mines that release toxic chemicals include the Green’s Creek Mine in Juneau (47 million pounds) that produces silver and the Pogo Mine near Delta Junction (7 million pounds). To see the report, go to http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/owcm.nsf/tri/2010data.

MOUNTAIN BIKING & HIKING IN THE MAT SU VALLEY has been produced by the Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers (VMBaH) as a guide to some of their favorite mountain biking and hiking trails in the valley. In it you will find information on 20 trails located throughout the valley with color maps and photographs. The guide includes some winter trails and tips on winter biking too. The cost is $14.95, and they are available at Backcountry Bikes, Fireweed Books and Active Soles in Palmer; and Pandemonium Books in Wasilla. This is a fundraiser for VMBaH. For more information, go to www.vmbah.org.

Updated ANCHORAGE TO ZERO WASTE (A TO Z) GUIDE is available at http://www.muni.org/Departments/SWS/Documents/AtoZGuide_fall2011web.pdf

INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL, a new publication outlining procedures used by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to implement the laws on intensive management is now available at www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=intensivemanagement.main. The document provides an overview of legal, biological, social, and economic factors that we consider when ADF&g develops intensive management programs. The statutes on intensive management were adopted by the legislature in 1994. The law requires the Board of Game to establish population and harvest objectives for moose, caribou, and deer populations in specific areas identified to be managed for high levels of harvest. If the Board

restricts harvests in intensive management areas, it must also adopt regulations designed to restore harvests through management actions such as predator control and improvement of habitat. The law allows exceptions if the Board determines that intensive management would be ineffective for scientific reasons, inappropriate due to land ownership patterns, or against the best interest of subsistence uses. Thedocument outlines the protocol used by department staff in developing and implementing intensive management programs. For more information, contact Tom Paragi at 907-459-7327 or email [email protected].

ALASKA COMMUNITY ACTION ON TOXICS (ACAT), a statewide environmental health and justice organization promoting the reduction of toxics, is now OFFERING A GREEN CLEANING SERVICE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE ANCHORAGE AREA. The service is a mission-related business, which means that a key purpose is to inform people about safe alternatives to toxic cleaning products while offering a service to the community. ACAT uses only cleaning supplies that have been verified by in-house researchers to be nontoxic. These include commercial cleaners, such as Seventh Generation and Waxie brands, as well as basic cleaning ingredients including baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. ACAT cleaning staff pays special attention to effective dust removal since some persistent chemicals bind to dust. The service to businesses includes dusting (windowsills, baseboards, furnishings, window blinds), cleaning and vacuuming floors and carpets, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, and emptying trash. Call ACAT at (907)222-7714 for more information about services. A donation of $25/hour/worker is suggested and all profits go to ACAT's programs. ACAT also offers GREEN-CLEANING WORKSHOPS IN THE FORM OF HOUSE PARTIES to teach residents about green cleaning and personal care. Call 222-7714 for more information about this program.

A great new Office of Response and Restoration (NOAA) ARCTIC OIL SPILL PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS IN KOTZEBUE: 500 MILES FROM HELP, PREPARING FOR THE WORST IN A REMOTE ARCTIC VILLAGE is available at http://usresponserestoration.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/preparing-oil-spills-arctic-village-kotzebue-alaska/.

ALASKA COMMUNITY ACTION ON TOXICS (ACAT) is now OFFERING A GREEN CLEANING SERVICE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE ANCHORAGE AREA. The service is a mission-related business, which means that a key purpose is to inform people about safe alternatives to toxic cleaning products while offering a service to the community. ACAT uses only cleaning supplies that have been verified by in-house researchers to be nontoxic. These include commercial cleaners, such as Seventh Generation and Waxie brands, as well as basic cleaning ingredients including baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. ACAT cleaning staff pays special attention to effective dust removal since some persistent chemicals bind to dust. The service to businesses includes dusting (windowsills, baseboards, furnishings, window blinds), cleaning and vacuuming floors and carpets, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, and emptying trash. Call ACAT at (907)222-7714 for more information about services. A donation of $25/hour/worker is suggested and all profits go to ACAT's programs. ACAT also offers green-cleaning workshops in the form of house parties to teach residents about green cleaning and personal care. Call 222-7714 for more information about this program.

HILLSIDE'S HOME AND LANDOWNERS ORGANIZATION (HALO) just released a REPORT ON THE WELL WATER QUALITY ON THE HILLSIDE. It is an impressive report posted at http://anchoragehalo.org/groundwaterquality.html.

INTERNSHIPS

**KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE in Homer is recruiting college students for summer Volunteer internships. They are looking for 2 MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATION INTERNS to work with Reserve staff from June 11 - August 18, 2012 to enhance the experience of Homer visitors through interpretation, one-on-one assistance, and hands-on demonstration related to a variety of marine/coastal environment themes at KBNERR Discovery Labs, outdoor Estuary Hikes, and special events. Interns will also assist Research Reserve staff on science outreach and research projects. Housing and a food stipend is provided. The deadline for applying is March 18. For more information, contact Jessica Ryan with the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve at 907-226-4657 or email [email protected].

The ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER is sponsoring AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS OR RECENT GRADUATES who are interested in gaining an educational experience in a world-class marine facility. ASLC internships offer a well-rounded, educational experience working in a variety of areas within the Center. Depending on the type of internship, duties may include assisting aquarium, avian or marine mammal staff with animal husbandry tasks; helping with marine-related research projects as well as teaching and/or preparing lessons in our education department. Interns will be required to participate in a variety of areas and all interns are required to participate to some extent in the interpretive aspects of our operation. Please visit our website at, http://www.alaskasealife.org/New/about-ASLC/index.php?page=internship-program.php, for details and to apply.

INTERN OPPORTUNITIES 2012 in Homer. Application deadline January 23. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTERN April-May. Positions available are geared towards college seniors and recent college graduates. A great way to get your foot in the door in Environmental Education! Begin the season by shadowing, training, and helping with programs for the first month and then share the lead on programs in May. Programs based out of Peterson Bay Coastal Science Field Station and the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory across from Homer, AK. Train as a residential instructor/group leader for Alaska Coastal Ecology and Onboard Oceanography program field trips and activities for school groups, grades 4-12. Duties will include instruction, leading beach and forest hikes, and performing routine maintenance of aquaria. Field sites include Kachemak Bay, rocky intertidal areas of outstanding diversity, a coastal forest trail system, and salt and freshwater wetlands. Requires knowledge of basic intertidal, marine, and forest ecology; experience instructing and organizing school groups or children, good physical condition, and ability to live and work in a residential situation with school groups and other staff. Alaska or similar experience and experience with stocking and maintaining salt water aquaria preferred. Two positions available. $1,000/mo +housing. For more information, contact Jenni Medley, School Programs Coordinator, at (907) 235-6714 or Fax: (907) 235-6668.

VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITIES

DENALI EDUCATION CENTER SEEKS NEW BOARD MEMBERS. The Denali Education Center board is composed of a dedicated group of individuals who actively work to fulfill the Denali Education Center’s mission to foster understanding and appreciation of Denali through informative and inspiring programs. A park partner, Denali Education Center offers youth programs in Denali National Park through the Murie Science and Learning Center. The board supports and oversees Denali Education Center operations, finances and staff, and engages in strategic planning that contributes to the organization’s success. People eager to work on furthering the Denali Education Center’s mission are encouraged to apply. Denali Education Center will hold an election for board members in April, 2012. To learn more about our programs, visit www.denali.org. To apply, review the Board Member Position Description and submit a completed Board Member Application Form to Toby Smith, Denali Education Center, P.O. Box 212, Denali Park AK, 99755 or email it to [email protected]. For more

information, contact Board Chair Toby Smith at (907) 317-5726 or [email protected]. The deadline for submitting your name is March 31.

WOMEN OF SCIENCE, GIRL SCOUT'S STEM PROGRAM to be held on February 4 need volunteers to help inspire over 1,000 girls coming to UAA to experience hands-on programs to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers. Come and join an amazing team of Presenters who connect with 20 girls in a college classroom for 30-45 minutes to engage them in learning more about their world, and their place in it. Contact Kay Shoemaker at Girl Scouts of Alaska: (907) 273-0393 or [email protected] for more information.

FAIRBANKS - INTERIOR ALASKA GREEN STAR is SEEKING NEW MEMBERS FOR ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. If you care about promoting green living, recycling, and community sustainability, this is the position for you. We are looking for energetic, creative, and enthusiastic people to support Interior Alaska Green Star’s mission to encourage households and businesses to practice waste reduction, energy conservation and pollution prevention. Benefits of becoming a board member include forming meaningful and lasting connections in the community, contributing to the impact Interior Alaska Green Star makes in our community, and supporting locally-based sustainable practices. If this sounds good to you, we would love to hear from you! For more detailed information about the time commitment and required duties, please visit: www.iagreenstar.org/participate/join-the-board for links to additional information, or email us at [email protected].

MAT-SU/COPPER BASIN AREA CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS are needed. Each member's term is three years, with an option to renew. Board members are recruited from the community at large to represent the various recreational, historical, and cultural resource interests in a balanced manner for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The Citizen Advisory Board members fulfill an important role of communication between Alaska State Parks and Mat-Su/Copper Basin communities. In the past year, the board considered issues such as the Hatcher Pass Management Area Plan Revision, the South Denali Project development, Fishhook Hydroelectric Projects, and cell towers in Denali State Park. This year the board will be working on the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area Management Plan update, the Denali State Park Trails Plan, and capital improvement projects in the Mat-Su/Copper Basin Area. Each fall, the board assists with a legislative briefing for the Mat-Su Legislative Delegation. Board meetings are held September through May, on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Wasilla Middle School Library. Members from outlying areas can attend meetings telephonically. The board welcomes the public to attend its monthly meetings. Go to http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/misc/brdappgeneric.pdf for the on-line PDF application. Applications are also available at the state parks office at 7278 East Bogard Road in Wasilla. For more information, contact the Park office at 745-8935.

Applications are currently being accepted for position(s) on the BIRD TREATMENT AND LEARNING CENTER BOARD of DIRECTORS. We are seeking energetic and enthusiastic individuals with financial, engineering and/or fundraising expertise. Candidates will be considered for openings available in December 2011. Please consider joining the Bird Treatment and Learning Center board to support the work of rehabilitating injured, orphaned and sick wild birds and providing experiential, dynamic and science based education programs to the public. This is a working board; so please apply only if you have the time and commitment to be an active participant. To apply send letter of interest and background to [email protected].

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

RURAL ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR for AMERICORPS VISTA LEADER NOTICE: YOU MUST HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ONE YEAR OF

VISTA SERVICE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION (AmeriCorps State, National, NCCC, and PeaceCorps programs do not count). The VISTA Leader is stationed in Anchorage and supports 12 VISTA members, who will be spread out across the state, mostly in rural locations. VISTA members are recruited locally and serve to build capacity for their home communities to better address local issues through research, planning and implementation of sustainable projects, educational/outreach events and community engagement initiatives focused around energy efficiency, awareness, renewable development and conservation, cultural preservation, and local self-sufficiency. The VISTA Leader researches energy efficiency, renewable energy, Alaska Native cultural traditions and values, and subsistence/food systems/gardening practices. Leader organizes and facilitates in-service training, creates a VISTA newsletter with input from other AK VISTA Leaders, updates social media, checks in with rural members weekly, holds biweekly teleconferences, and assists in host site troubleshooting and general project planning. The Leader attends conferences and trainings, travels to remote areas of Alaska off the road system, and experiences working cross-culturally with Traditional Councils and Tribal Offices. Applicants should be creative, good communicators, able to manage multiple tasks, be willing to serve as a mentor to others, be willing to travel to rural Alaska, be willing to work with and under multiple constituencies, have an affinity to learning about culture and sustainability, be familiar with Microsoft programs and computer/internet tasks, enjoy project planning & writing & research/resource generation. Please contact Jennifer Kehoe at [email protected] and apply on www.americorps.gov.

Two 2012 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS - The National Park Service and the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) are seeking applicants for two research fellowships that are available to INDIVIDUALS WISHING to CONDUCT RESEARCH IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK and PRESERVE and OTHER ARCTIC AND SUBARCTIC ALASKA NATIONAL PARKS. The Discover Denali Research Fellowship is for research in or near Denali, and the Murie Science and Learning Center Fellowship is for research taking place in Denali or other arctic or subarctic Alaska national parks. The deadline for both fellowship applications is February 15 and a decision is expected to be made by March 1, or soon thereafter. The fieldwork of fellowship recipients must be arranged before September 1. The Discover Denali and the MSLC Fellowship Programs are designed to assist graduate students, but may be appropriate for college and university faculty, state and federal agency scientists, undergraduate students, and private-sector researchers. Proposals for research that will help managers make decisions about critical resource issues are particularly encouraged. If an applicant wants to be considered for both funding sources, only one application is needed; however, only one fellowship may be received per applicant. More than one fellow is expected to be selected for each program. Any previous fellow may reapply, but is not assured of additional funding. Applications for 2012 fellowships will be considered for funding requests up to $8000, to be used over one or two years. An information guide about either of the fellowships, which includes specifics on how to apply and other information helpful to the application process, may be downloaded fromwww.nps.gov/dena/naturescience/discodena.htm. For more information contact Denali’s Research Administrator Lucy Tyrrell at 907-683-6352 or email [email protected].

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MANAGER for the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND (WWF) to be located in Anchorage. Full time position to provide key support for the Arctic Field Program’s conservation strategy through communications and development. The ideal candidate is a skilled communications and/or fundraising professional, with experience working in Alaska on natural resource use issues, creativity, and passion for conservation. The Manager will work in a variety of media and with a diverse array of private and public sector stakeholders. The Manager will report to the Managing Director of the WWF-US Arctic Field Program and will work closely with the WWF-US communications and development teams. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Develop local and regional communications strategies for Alaska’s Arctic Field Program. Identify opportunities to communicate externally about global Arctic issues/events to bolster WWF’s conservation and fundraising efforts in Alaska. Work with the Alaska team to identify key opinion leaders in Alaska on selected issues and develop a strategy to

influence those individuals. Develop annual communication plans for WWF projects in the Arctic (including Beaufort-Bering-Chukchi and Kamchatka). Work closely with senior Alaska team members to plan events, timelines, and decision-making processes relative to OCS leasing, Pebble Mine, species, and fisheries management processes. Assist with fundraising and donor communications. Oversee the preparation of special donor reports. Qualifications: 8+ years of experience working in senior-level communications or similar positions; Experience developing and successfully implementing external communications plans; Deep familiarity with environment/natural resources issues in the north Pacific and Arctic; Knowledge of Alaska and experience in community-level education preferred; Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a diverse array of funders and colleagues; Excellent oral communication and writing skills, and a polished and diplomatic style; Ability to thrive in a team setting; Fiscal/budget management skills; Attention to detail and strong organizational skills; Creativity, flexibility, and innovation; Ability to analyze, prioritize, and complete work with minimal supervision; Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines; Willingness to travel occasionally (within the eco-region and to Washington, DC); Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. To Apply, please go to http://www.ceaconsulting.com/what/position_details.aspx?client=CEA&jobId=179 to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. Please direct all applications and inquiries to CEA Recruiting. This position will remain open until filled. For more information, visit www.cearecruiting.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for OCEAN RENEWABLE POWER COMPANY (www.orpc.co) to support the Anchorage office and coordinate with the corporate and other development offices, currently in Portland and Eastport, Maine, respectively. Responsibilities: Establish and maintain office organizational systems, general administrative support, word processing, and the willingness to tackle new tasks, learn new skills, and take on new responsibilities as needed in a growing company. Qualifications: §Professional demeanor, demonstrates good communication skills (written and verbal), § Knowledge of office technologies and software, experience with databases, §Experience coordinating meetings and travel arrangements, §Attention to detail and accuracy, §Excellent organizational skills, and §A bachelor’s degree is desirable. Hours and Compensation (may vary according to applicants’ situations): Ideal candidate will be hired at part time, or 20-30 hours/week, High potential for full time as early as 3 months after date of hire. Benefits: Vacation, Sick, Holidays, Medical, Dental and 401K (varies from part time to full time status). Please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to [email protected] or call (907)-339-7939 between 8am and Noon with any questions.

REGIONAL SUPERVISOR for the Dept. of Fish & Game, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. This position will lead wildlife management programs for Region II, which includes communities around South-central Alaska like Anchorage, Kodiak, Kenai Peninsula, and Cordova. This position is located in the Anchorage Regional Office and has a regional staff of 36 professional, technical, and administrative positions and four area offices. Program emphasis includes wildlife management and research activities primarily on moose, bear, caribou, wolf, sheep, goat, elk, deer, and furbearers. The primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: Overseeing approximately $4.9 million, comprised primarily from state and federal sources; Working cooperatively with state agencies, elected officials, municipal governments, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations engaged in wildlife conservation activities within the region; Serving as a member of the Division's senior management team, which determines program direction and recommends policy for wildlife programs statewide; Serving as a liaison to the Board of Game for developing and modifying hunting regulations that affect the region. Significant management issues in this region include the following: human/wildlife interactions (primarily bears and moose in urban areas), wildlife sanctuaries, state game refuge land, and intensive management programs. Region II was comprised of eight area offices, but a recent reorganization created two distinct organizational units, each with four offices. Travel to urban and rural communities is associated with these activities, mostly by commercial or charter air carriers. The ideal candidate will possess some or all of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience (All of the

following traits must be documented in your applicant profile and cover letter. Failure to document your relevant experience with each trait may jeopardize your chances of receiving an interview. If you don't have experience with one or more of the traits listed below, simply say so.):Experience with wildlife management and the aim of balancing the needs of wildlife with the needs of people; Expertise in managing human/wildlife conflicts around urban environments; Experience with researching wildlife species to support management programs; Experience with regulatory boards and developing regulations and policy; Experience with interagency coordination; Experience with public relations; Experience with personnel supervision; Experience with fiscal management of budgets. For full notice, go to http://notes3.state.ak.us/wa/postapps.nsf/3fce5e59a6a3b75189256443007a8ed2/0fa4eb393760b9338925797400636b24?OpenDocument. Deadline for application, January 30.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR for the NORTHERN ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER (NAEC) location: Fairbanks seeds an energetic leader and experienced manager with political acumen and broad familiarity with environmental issues. The successful candidate will demonstrate a solid and long-standing conservation ethic and an ability to inspire, collaborate with and supervise a staff of seven; fundraise successfully in a variety of contexts; and communicate effectively with donors, members and the media. Excellent oral and written skills are a prerequisite, as is an ability to develop collaborative, solutions-based outcomes within our local community and with state and national conservation partners. Compensation: Salary: $56,000 - $70,000 per year DOE. Benefits: health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave (after probationary period); exempt status. Negotiable incentives for outstanding performance and/or longevity. Application process: Send resume, cover letter, and complete contact information for three professional references to [email protected] with subject line: NAEC ED application_Last name_First name. Please convert all attachments to PDF format. Include in your cover letter your qualifications for this position and a statement (1,000 words max) on the following topic: NAEC’s organizational vision states, “We envision a naturally thriving, biologically and culturally diverse, wildlands-rich, sustainable, inspiring and thoughtfully protected northern Alaska, forever.” This vision leaves considerable room for a strong leader, working with the board and staff, to create effective strategies for addressing opportunities and challenges in northern Alaska. What makes you this leader?Start date: May 1, 2012. Review of applications will begin Feb 13, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In addition to references provided by the applicant, NAEC reserves the right to make additional inquiries or to contact any person listed on the applicant’s resume for a reference. To see the full description and apply here go to http://northern.org/about-us/job-opportunities/executive-director-job-opening.

MOUNTAIN VIEW REVITALIZATION PROJECT AMERICORPS VISTA POSITION for the ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. Position will assist with the development and revitalization of Mountain View as a diverse, vital, safe working class neighborhood; a 'community of choice' where people can make a start and choose to stay and participate in the direction of their community. The Anchorage Community Land Trust supports the community by acting as a land trust and as a community development organization. The purchase of blighted property along Mountain View Drive is one way we work in the community to upgrade and prepare sites for development in conjunction with the wishes of Mountain View residents. Member Duties : Building capacity for a yearly Community Summit project to build on the Mountain View Neighborhood Action Plan. Step 1: Finding resources and understanding the process of developing a community summit to revisit the Mountain View Neighborhood Action Plan. Step 2: Develop and Refine current project concept and proposal. Step 3: Organizing and rallying community support and partners to make this event possible. Step 4: Capacity building for the Neighborhood Action Plan Summit. Bringing together people, crafting appropriate resources and objectives and creating sustainable means to carry on the Summit. Step 5: Hosting the 1st Annual Mountain View Community Summit Step 6: Sustainability and Longevity: What can we learn from the 1st community summit and How to make this process last? Program Benefits: Childcare assistance if eligible, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Health Coverage, Living

Allowance, Relocation Allowance, Training. Terms: Prohibits paid work outside of the sponsoringagency at any time. Service Areas: Community and Economic Development, Community Outreach, Entrepreneur/Business, Neighborhood Revitalization. Skills: Communications, Community Organization, Computers/Technology, Conflict Resolution, Education, Fund raising/Grant Writing, Leadership, Public Speaking. APPLICANT MUST APPLY THROUGH AMERICORPS WEBSITE at www.americorps.gov.

MANAGER, WESTERN LANDS INITIATIVE for the PEW ENVIRONMENT GROUP to be located in Anchorage to promote policies and practices that protect the global environment, preserve healthy forests and marine ecosystems. Responsibilities: To oversee all aspects of the Western Lands Initiative project including: Collaborate with and assist local, state, and national conservation groups and other stakeholders to formulate and implement strategic land protection campaign plans, strategy and tactics; Advise partner groups on appropriate actions to take in the public policy arena. Coordinate with Pew grassroots outreach, communications, and policy staff, including making tactical judgments and taking appropriate initiative as necessary; Develop, manage and maintain the campaign plan for Pew's engagement in the Integrated Activity Planning process for the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPRA) which will involve close coordination with Pew's Oceans North Campaign; Identify and implement other strategies to accord long-term protections to NPR-A lands while ensuring subsistence needs are met; Develop, manage and maintain the campaign plan for non-NPR-A BLM lands; Ensure that Pew, along with its partner groups, are fully engaged in any BLM planning processes and other agency planning processes in Alaska through which we may gain protection for key areas; Represent Pew and partner groups to the Bureau of Land Management leadership and staff in Alaska and Washington, D.C. about Alaska BLM lands protection; Identify and implement other strategies to accord long-term protections to Alaska BLM lands; and Develop a budget and write PFAs and contracts to implement ourAlaska BLM plan. Requirements: Bachelor's degree with advanced degree preferred; Strong background and experience in grassroots advocacy; Working knowledge and experience with federal public lands issue; Understanding of the policy making process; A minimum of ten years of experience in public education and outreach campaigns in ever increasing positions of responsibility; Available outside normal business hours when essential to organizational priorities; Demonstrated strong analytical skills. Ability to synthesize information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue/problem, determine whether it is ripe for intervention and identify the means to address it. A strong commitment to producing measurable results; Excellent written and oral communications skills, including demonstrated ability to summarize issues and means to address them. Strong oral, presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills such that complex ideas, thoughts and concepts are clearly articulated for a general audience. Clear, effective writing style. Travel: Frequent travel for site visits with partner organizations is required for this position. For more information, go to https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/2735/job or contact Christine Dalpino, Manager, Talent Acquisition, at 202.540.6614 or email [email protected].

HOUSING SPECIALIST PROGRAM OFFICER for the JUNEAU ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL to serve as the primary point of contact for public and community groups working to make Juneau's housing costs more affordable. The Housing Specialist acts as a liaison between the Affordable Housing Commission (AHC), the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) and groups working in the areas of low-cost housing development. The incumbent will maintain positive relationships and share relevant information with groups supporting the homeless locally, regionally, and statewide. A full position description and application instructions can be found at http://www.jedc.org/jobs.shtml.

To RECEIVE What's Up, or to ADD meetings, events, publications, deadlines, websites, or CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS or UNSUBSCRIBE, contact Peg Tileston at 907-561-0540, FAX 907-563-2747 or [email protected].