The Anchorage Daily News recently reported that Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski is defending his controversial plan to take project permit power away from the Habitat Division of the state’s Department of Fish and Game.
“I think we have seen, in the Habitat Division, the development of a reputation . . . for delay, a reputation for inflexibility, and an input based on protection on the basis of personal viewpoints,” Murkowski told the newspaper, adding that habitat biologists have been known to bring complaints to the press and other non-governmental groups instead of working with the other state agencies involved in projects.
Obviously the governor considers the actions of the Habitat Division to be seriously flawed.
In Canada, we’re hearing increasing pleas from industry and individuals making similar allegations about the actions of Habitat officials of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Recent local examples include the unnecessary delay and cost of construction of the new Whitehorse south access, and concerns raised by Yukon placer miners about the scrapping of the the Yukon Placer Authorization (an authorization under the Canada Fisheries Act to provide protection of the Yukon’s fisheries, while permitting placer mining to continue).
Across Canada, similar complaints would fill volumes. The tactics of using delays and inflexibility are well-known.
It is time to start documenting the actions of Department of Fisheries and Oceans to see if their actions have a pattern based on personal views rather than science.
James Christie
Geologist and placer miner
Dawson City, Y.T.
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