Early July News

FISH AND GAME’s In-season salmon summary for SE (July 2 update):
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyfisherysalmon.bluesheetsummary

Fish and Game’s budget should be finalized next week after the Legislature cut about $1.3 million in general fund dollars from their budget for the new fiscal year, which started July 1 http://kdlg.org/post/fish-and-game-still-finalizing-budget

NSRAA. Hidden Falls closes due to poor performance while Deep Inlet performs well: http://www.nsraa.org/?p=2088

GILLNETTING YELLOWTAIL AMBERJACK. A Sitka Sound surprise: http://www.sitkascience.org/yellowtail-amberjack-seriola-lalandi-caught-in-sitka-sound/

MOUNT POLLEY MINE REPORT

This investigation, the report of which was released July 2, 2015, was initiated in response to public concerns about what the Canadian government knew about the condition of the Mount Polley mine tailings pond dam prior to the August 4, 2014 breach that released effluent into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek, and Quesnel Lake, and whether government should have notified the public of potential risks before the failure occurred. The report also considers the meaning of s. 25(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”) by examining whether the public interest disclosure provision should be re-interpreted by this office.

The failure of the Mount Polley mine tailings pond dam resulted in the catastrophic release of 25 million cubic metres of water and mine tailings into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek, and Quesnel Lake. The environmental effect of the breach is only just beginning to be understood and is likely to persist for decades. The 37-page Report called, “Review Of The Mount Polley Mine Tailings Pond Failure And Public Interest Disclosure By Public Bodies” by Elizabeth Denham, Information and Privacy Commissioner, British Columbia https://www.oipc.bc.ca/investigation-reports/1814

SEND PHOTOS PLEASE. We need photos of you at work. Your pictures will tell thousands of words as we communicate what we do and what we need to potential business members, the legislature, partners and more. Email photos to me at usag.alaska@gmail.com

Happy Holiday and Good Fishing!

-Cynthia Wallesz