In order for Alaskans to enjoy the state's fish and wildlife in perpetuity, it's essential to maintain a high standard of clean water. Countless examples can be cited that prove that when toxic pollutants make their way into fish habitat, fish stocks are destroyed. Alaska's fish stocks set the standard on a global front, but it will take continued and diligent protection of these resources to insure their long-term sustainability.
Alaska is also a place that depends on the harvest of natural resources for the economic and social success of the population. Oil and gas, timber, minerals and fish are all important to the residents of Alaska and responsible policies need be in place that allow for the gathering of these resources.
Alaskans for Clean Water is an organization founded to pass the Clean Water Initiative (Ballot Measure #4) in the August 26, 2008 election. The Clean Water Initiative aims to make certain that new large metallic mines are developed in a manner that protects Alaska's drinking water and salmon spawning grounds from toxic pollution in amounts that adversely affect salmon. State law does not currently have regulations with such protections for salmon. Alaskans for Clean Water span many user groups from sport to commercial fisherman, lodge owners and Alaskan Natives.
One of the important aspects for Alaskans to consider is that the Clean Water Initiative does not seek to shut down mining in Alaska. It simply provides that mining be conducted in a manner that does not pollute salmon spawning grounds and Alaskan's drinking water. Mining organizations will need to treat discharge before it enters waterways. It's not too much to ask that the minerals be mined responsibly so that there is no lasting effect on the ecosystem.
The Clean Water Initiative states: "The purpose of this Act is to protect the statewide public interest in water quality by limiting the discharge or release of certain toxic pollutants on the land and waters of the state, and by establishing management standards and other regulatory prescriptions to ensure that Alaska's waterways, streams, rivers and lakes, an important public asset, are not adversely impacted by new large scale metallic mining operations and that such prospective operations are appropriately regulated to assure no adverse effects on the state's clean waters." The Initiative also addresses regulatory standards affecting streams and waters, scope of the measure, a savings clause and definitions of "large scale metallic mineral mining operation" and associated development as well as "toxic pollutants".
A copy of the Initiative can be viewed at www.alaskacleanwater .org.
Commonly asked questions discussed on the website include:
- Will Ballot Measure 4 shut down all mining in Alaska?
- Does Alaskans for Clean Water oppose mining?
- Will the clean water initiative hurt Alaska's economy?
- Why not let the process work?
It's every Alaskans responsibility to be educated on topics that we will be asked to vote upon. We urge you to examine both sides of any issue. Having done so ourselves, all we ask is that you take the time to get educated and come out and vote for the Clean Water Initiative.
Note: At the time that this magazine was printed the Clean Water Initiative was taken to the State Supreme Court by the Alaska Council of Producers to get it removed from the ballot. A ruling should be in place by July 10. Alaskans for Clean Water fully expects that the highest court will rule that Ballot Measure #4 is constitutional and will remain on the ballot.
Marcus Weiner
Publisher
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