Return to Member Comments
May 2, 2013
Mr. Ray Burger
Resource Assessment and Development Section
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1050
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579
Re: Bristol Bay Area Plan
Dear Mr. Burger;
I urge DNR to continue using the original 2005 version of the Bristol Bay Area Plan
The original plan provides flexibility for many uses including recreational sports hunting and fishing, subsistence harvesting by local residents, community planning alternatives, minerals exploration and development and other commercial uses. Considering the size of the area and the diverse needs that need to be addressed now and in the future it is imperative to maintain this flexibility.
The 2005 plan provides the DNR and other State agencies continued management authority over land and water uses as development progresses. Protection these resources does not require the sweeping planning restrictions proposed by some local and outside groups to the detriment of the planning process and resultant potential economic hardship to the area.
Most of the area encompassed by the plan is presently remote and unsettled. To contemplate tight land use restrictions at this time would not follow good planning precepts nor conform to the State’s, DNR’s, mission of providing for future land uses and economic growth. The primary purpose of the Statehood land entitlement was to provide a base for Alaska’s economic growth. This growth was never intended to be a singular approach to land use but to include a myriad of economic benefits to the citizenry through development of fishery, timber, tourism, community expansion, and minerals resources.
The State’s DNR employs professional planners operating within statutory guidelines to research and develop management plans for state land that are in the best interest of the state and citizens as a whole. This process has been successfully carried on since Statehood. To deviate from this at the urging or threats from a few individuals and outside groups is not in the best interest of the State. The 2005 land classification plan applied to most of the lands in the area provides for environmental protection through a robust state and federal permitting system including reviews by Fish and Game, ADEC, DNR and a host of federal agencies. Thus proposed uses of any nature are subject to detailed scrutiny whether for mining, fisheries development, community expansion or other purposes. This check and balance system is unavoidable and insures sound development and protection of the environment.
Recent demographic studies in the Bristol Bay area indicate that there is a rather dramatic shrinking of the population. It appears that this is due at least in part to a paucity of jobs or careers particularly for the younger generation. In some cases this will result in threatened school closures when the state’s minimum class sizes cannot be met. If we want to reverse this trend it will be necessary to provide longer term careers particularly for the younger generation. This means looking for ways to expand work opportunities through mineral resource development, et al. Creating roadblocks to development at this juncture would be hard on the local population.
I commend DNR for their continued planning and management activities for Bristol Bay area and trust future work will continue to address broad based uses that will benefit the area and entire state.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this issue which is so important to the continued progress of our state.
Sincerely,
Howard J. Grey
