Editors Note: Distribution of What S up May Be a Bit Erratic for the Next Week Since I
Editors note: Distribution of What’s Up may be a bit erratic for the next week since I will have spotty internet access. Please continue to send notices.
**Mark items that are new in this issue.
October 16, 2011
Compiled Weekly by Peg Tileston
On behalf of the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network (AWEN), Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE), and Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA)
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, TRAINING
October 17 & 18
ANCHORAGE - TWO DAY STRATEGIC GRANT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (Sponsored by Institute for Strategic Funding Development - ISFD) will be held from 8:30am to 5pm each day at Alaska Pacific University. CFRE Accredited Course for 15 contact hours or 15 Continuing Education Points! Participants completing the workshop will receive the following: a Certificate of Completion accredited by CFRE, grant funding CD, bonus fundraising CD, expert grant training instruction from industry leaders. Visit our website at http://www.isfdonline.com/ or call (877) 414-8991 to sign up now. The strategic grant writing development workshop is designed to teach the basics of grant writing for industry professionals. It provides a comprehensive overview of effective grant development techniques, including: finding best fit funding sources, creating innovative programs, and planning for funding sustainability. Tuition for our Two-day grant writing workshop is $498 per person, with a $25 off discount for early sign-ups (10 business days or more before the workshop). For more information call (877) 414-8991 or email with your basic contact information and a seat will be reserved.
October 18
ANCHORAGE - INVASIVE PLANTS OF ALASKA FOR EDUCATORS WORKSHOP will be held in the UAA Gorsuch Commons, Room 106. Investigate the invasive plants of Alaska and how to integrate this exciting ecological issue into K-12 educational settings in this free workshop. The workshop covers the ecological and societal impacts of invasive species, identification of problematic invasive species of Alaska, and methods for invasive plant control.The course includes hands-on use of inquiry-based lessons from Alaska-based invasive plants curricula. Workshop is held in conjunction with the Alaska Invasive Species Conference. UAA-PACE professional development credit (ED 581) available for a brokered fee and conference attendance. All K-12 formal and informal educators are welcome to enroll attend.For more information or to register, contact .
October 19 - 21
ANCHORAGE – The 2011 ALASKA INVASIVE SPECIES CONFERENCE will take place at the Millennium Anchorage Hotel on October 19 to 20 and nearby Coast International Inn on October 21. The conference will include the 12th annual CNIPM Workshop and sixth annual Alaska Invasive Species Working Group Workshop. The agenda and registration form can be found in the conference brochure. This year's conference will include the 12th annual CNIPM (Committee for Noxious & Invasive Plant Management) workshop and the 6th annual Alaska Invasive Species Working Group at http://www.uaf.edu/ces/pests/aiswg/. Conference. Registration is available by filling out the registration form in the brochure, and is discounted up until October12. Payment by credit card should be directed to http://bit.ly/AISC-2011. There will be Certified Pesticide Applicator and Certified Crop Advisory CEUs available for attendees. This is a great chance to catch up on all the invasive species work that has been happening in the state over the last year, as well as an opportunity to create future collaborations on many invasive species issues.
October 24 & 25
ANCHORAGE - COMMUNITY BUILDING for ALASKA, sponsored by the ALASKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, will be held in the Atwood Center of Alaska Pacific University and facilitated by LOUISE VAN RHYN. Van Rhyn is a passionate social entrepreneur and South African citizen. She sees the Community Building Sessions as an opportunity to mobilize citizens to contribute to an alternative future for their communities, states, and nations, “one conversation at a time.” During the Community Building Sessions, participants will connect with diverse individuals from across Alaska who are actively engaged in community building efforts. For information about attending or sponsoring the event, contact Babbie Jacobs at (Tel: 907-334-6700) or go to http://www.alaskacf.org/News/CommunityBuildingforAlaska/tabid/365/Default.aspx to view the event’s page.
October 25 - 27
ANCHORAGE - 2011 SHOREZONE ANNUAL MEETING will be held at the National Park Service office, 240 West 5th Ave., Anchorage Alaska. Over the past several years, the annual meeting has been a great opportunity to inform and educate interested individuals, local/state/federal government agencies and tribes about what the program has to offer; provide updates on what is new in the program; and to set priorities for the coming year. A detailed agenda should be available soon. For more information, got to http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/shorezone/blog/2011-shorezone-annual-meeting-date-is-set/view.html
**October 25 - 27
ANCHORAGE - ALASKA COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION TRANSIT CONFERENCE 2011 will be held at the Hotel Captain Cook. This year’s conference theme is BUILDING BLOCKS for a SMOOTHER RIDE! Conference will feature speakers and topics dealing with the present and future of public transportation in Alaska. For more information, go to https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=ACTD12E.
October 30
Comments are due on proposal to RAISE the FEE for CAMPING AT BROOKS CAMP CAMPGROUND in KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE from $8 to $15 per person, per night. The increased revenue will enable the park to provide necessary improvements and repairs to the existing facilities in the campground and other visitor use areas at Brooks Camp and elsewhere in the park. Recent improvements have included new restrooms, food/gear caches, cooking shelters, picnic tables, and fire rings. There is also a separate proposal to place the Fure’s Bay of Islands Public Use Cabin on the national reservation system, and to implement a new fee of $45 per night. Placing the cabin on the reservation system and collecting a fee of $45 per night will make it easier for visitors throughout the country to reserve the cabin, an important part of the popular Savonoski Loop paddle trip. The fees collected will be used to offset the cost of the reservation system, and for annual maintenance of the historic cabin and associated structures. If approved, all new fees will go into effect on January 5, 2012. As in the past, campground and cabin reservations will be accepted beginning January 5, 2012. For more information or to submit comments, contact Roy Wood, Chief of Interpretation, at (907) 246-2122, Fax 907-246-2116 or or go to http://www.recreation.gov.
November 3
Comments are due on the FINAL RECONNAISSANCE REPORT for the NORTHEN ACCESS to U-MED DISTRICT. The report and supporting documents are available at http://www.dowlhkm.com/projects/northernaccess/Documents.htm. For additional information on this project, contact Steve Noble at 562-2000 or Kelly Petersen at 269-0546. Submit comments to .
November 3
DILLINGHAM - The BRISTOL BAY REGIONAL VISION SUMMIT will bring together representatives from communities across the region together with staff of local, state and federal agencies to learn about the Bristol Bay Regional Vision. Participants will discuss how governments, agencies, communities, and residents can work together effectively to implement the Vision. Topics will include how to determine projects, implement policies, and recognize partnership opportunities that will further the Vision of Bristol Bay Region residents. The summit is open to the public. The summit will be held in the Elementary School Gym. For more information, go to http://www.bristolbayvision.org/comments/.
November 4
Deadline for comments on the SOUTHEAST ALASKA TRANSPORTATION PLAN (SATP) is a regional multimodal transportation plan that provides a framework for improving transportation connections between communities within the region. The plan looks at Southeast Alaska(s network of roads, ferries and airports, and at the operating and maintenance costs of the network. The update to the 2004 plan will consider changes in Southeast Alaska(s industries, economy, population, and infrastructure, as well as current fiscal outlook and costs. This update began in 2008 when a Mission Statement and Goals were developed with public input. Most recently, ADOT&PF released a Scoping Report for the 20112012 SATP update, with six preliminary alternatives. The six preliminary alternatives are: 1: Maintain the Existing System - Alternative 1 identifies the costs to maintain the existing ferry system. It is thus a (baseline( alternative against which other alternatives are compared. 2: Fleet Capacity Management - Alternative 2 identifies the costs, benefits, and impacts to manage fleet capacity in a way that more closely matches current and projected future traffic demand. 3: Maximize Use of Existing Roads - Alternative 3 identifies the costs, benefits, and impacts of discontinuing ferry service to Bellingham and across the Gulf of Alaska, including Yakutat. 4: Alaska Class Ferries - Alternative 4 identifies the costs, benefits and impacts to replace the three aging mainline ferries with three 350 foot (Alaska Class( ferries and a new mainline ferry. 5: Continue to Build Highway Route 7 - Alternative 5 identifies the costs, benefits, and impacts of replacing the existing mainline ferry system with a system based on road segments connected by shuttle ferries. 6: No Action - Alternative 6 evaluates what happens to the transportation system if no action occurs to replace the three aged mainline ferries. For more information or to submit comments, email , or Fax 9074652016.
**November 4 & 5
LED TRANSFORMATIONS: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE ON THE PATH TO NET ZERO ENERGY WORKSHOPS will be held in the held in the following locations;
**November 4 – ANCHORAGE from 1 to 5pm at the BP Energy Center, 900 E. Benson Blvd.
**November 5 – WASILLA from 1 to 5pm at the Agate Inn, 4725 Begich Circle
New LED products are appearing in the market rapidly — some very good, some not so good — and buyers must quickly learn how to determine which products will best suit their lighting needs. Besides the opportunity for significant energy savings, LED technology also opens exciting design opportunities for architects, lighting designers, builders and consumers. Presenter: JACK CURRAN, President of LED Transformations, LLC has over 25 years of product development experience, including patents for a number of products based on LED technologies. Dr. Curran has given numerous talks on the correct use of LED technology for general illumination applications both for his own company and on behalf of the U.S Dept. of Energy Solid-State Lighting Program. Attendees will come away with an understanding of: LED lighting basics, Strengths and weaknesses of LED technology, separating fact from fiction, how and where LED lighting is appropriate, and Resources available. $20 General Admission, ACAT Members Free, $75 CE Certificate. Register online: http://www.acat.org. Limited Seating available.
November 4 & 5
ANCHORAGE - FIRE IN ALASKA WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS - 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 action-packed 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 available for continuing education credit through UAA. Space is limited, sign up now by emailing Lilly Goodman-Allwright at .
WEBINARS, WEBCASTS & TELECONFERENCES
**October 18 (STREAMED LIVE) (CORRECTED DATE)
GAS LINE PUBLIC FORUM to REVIEW FISCAL OPTIONS will be held from 5:30 to 7pm Alaska Time in Room 150, UAA Fine Arts Building Recital Hall. The federal coordinator’s office for an Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline is sponsoring the forum to discuss the state’s options for assisting in gas line development. The panelists will review potential fiscal options that could help in developing an out-of-state and an in-state line, and how the state could benefit from looking at the two projects as a package. Panelists: WILLIAM GARNER, senior counsel at Dewey & LeBoeuf in Houston, GREGG ERICKSON, longtime Alaska economist, DAN FAUSKE, president of the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corp. Moderator: LARRY PERSILY, Federal Coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. The forum will be streamed live on the web at www.arcticgas.gov. Forum information, including biographies of the speakers, their presentations, supplemental materials, access to the forum’s live stream and a link to electronically submit questions during the forum will be available at the above website.
****October 20 (WEB CONFERENCE & TELECONFERENCE AVAILABLE)
The first meeting of the COOK INLET RISK ASSESSMENT (CIRA) ADVISORY PANEL will be held from 1:30 to 5pm at UAA Edward Lee Gorsuch Commons, Room 106. For more information, meeting materials and agenda go to http://cookinletriskassessment.com/index.html. For more information, contact Amy Gilson at 907.234.7821. 240.394.4855 (fax) or go to www.nukaresearch.com.
** October 26 (TELECONFERENCE SEMINAR)
CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS IN TRADITIONAL FOODS FROM ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND: FINDINGS from a NEW STUDY AND UPDATE on INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS to ELIMINATE PERSISTENT POLLUTANTS will be held from 9 to 10am as part of the Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment teleconference seminar series. The circumpolar Arctic is exposed to pesticides and industrial chemicals that originate from thousands of miles away, traveling northward via oceanic and atmospheric currents. These chemicals accumulate in the north because the cold climate and fat-based food web favor retention of these persistent toxic chemicals. At the request of and in collaboration with the Yupik people of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) conducted a study to determine contaminant levels in traditional subsistence foods. Analyses of more than 300 samples indicated high levels of PCBs in important foods including bowhead whale, walrus, and seal. Join this call to: Learn about the findings of the St. Lawrence Island traditional foods study recently published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; find out what actions the communities are taking to protect their health; hear an update on chemicals being considered for a worldwide ban under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Guest Presenters: DAVID CARPENTER, M.D. director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at UAlbany's School of Public Health; PAMELA MILLER, executive director, ACAT; and VIOLA WAGHIYI Environmental Health and Justice Program Director, ACAT. For more information, or to join this FREE call and receive the dial-up instructions please RSVP to ACAT at or (907) 222-7714.
October 27 & 28 (TELECONFERENCE AVAILABLE)
The CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMISSION ON FEDERAL AREAS will meet at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office at 716 west 4th Ave. This is a public meeting; everyone is welcome to attend either in person or by phone. Public testimony on agenda items or other federal land management issues is encourages at the dedicated times as listed on the proposed agenda. To participate by phone, dial 463-5009 from inside Juneau or 1-855-463-5009 from outside Juneau; a meeting moderator will introduce you. Proposed agenda: October 27 1 to 5pm - Communications, Report of Chairman/Executive Director; Discussion with Alaska Department of Law; 3pm - Public Participation; 4pm - Agency Reports: National Park Service - Denali Park Road Draft Vehicle Management Plan. October 28 - 8:30 a.m. – Reconvene - Agency Reports: A. U.S. F & W Service - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan; B. Alaska Federal Lands Draft Long Range Transportation Plan; C. AKDNR - Public Access Assertion and Defense Unit Report; 11am - Public Participation; Noon to 1:30pm - Lunch 1:30pm - Unfinished Business - A. S. 730- Southeast AK Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act– Consideration of Subcommittee Recommendations; B. Discussion of Commission Activities- Increasing Effectiveness; 3pm - Public Participation; 4pm - New Business - A. Denali Park Road Draft Vehicle Management Plan - Commission Recommendations. And B. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Draft CCP – Commission Recommendations. 4:30pm - Commission Members Comments. 5pm - Adjourn