Representative Seaton Introduces Legislation to Protect Alaska Economy, Revenue, and Environment

(Juneau) - Representative Seaton has pre-filed five bills at the start of the 26th Legislature to promote healthy fisheries; to institute a modern tax regime for mining operations; to provide public participation in wastewater discharge permitting; and to heighten legal protection for the state in oil and gas lease disputes.

I look forward to a productive discussion of these issues during the upcoming session.
~ Rep. Paul Seaton

"I look forward to a productive discussion of these issues during the upcoming session," Representative Seaton said. "These pieces of legislation are aimed at maintaining the vitality of Alaska fisheries; expanding economic opportunities; and ensuring reasonable revenues from extraction of our non-renewable resources. Taken as a whole, these bills represent a proactive approach to keeping Alaska sustainable as we head into our next 50 years."

• HB 46 is an omnibus water quality and public right to know bill. HB 46 prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from permitting wastewater discharges into freshwater fish spawning areas. Under current regulation wastewater discharge into freshwater spawning areas may be permitted if salmon are not actively spawning at the time. HB 46 also gives the public access to the annual amount and nature of pollution discharged by permit into public waters. Finally, HB 46 gives the public the ability to comment on expansions of commercial sewage lagoons. Under current regulation, public comment is only offered at initial permitting of the facility. Subsequent expansions do not require public comment. This means that a small lagoon may be expanded to many times its original size without input from residents in the area.


• HB 43 allows for the expansion of Geoduck clam mariculture in Alaska. Mariculture has the potential to diversify the economic base of coastal communities impacted by the changing dynamics of the fishing industry. HB 43 helps this clean water industry by allowing Geoducks to be farmed below the low tide line along the Gulf of Alaska if wild Geoducks are not present.


• HB 40 provides a fair share of Alaska's non-renewable resources to benefit all Alaskans by reforming a mining tax and royalty structure that has not been updated since statehood. The bill makes changes to the existing Mining License Tax, minerals and coal royalties, as well as the rentals for mining activity on state land.


• HB 41 expands the ability of Board of Fisheries members to offer their experienced viewpoint during board debates. Current law requires board members to declare a conflict and recuse themselves from discussion and voting if they, or a member of their extended family, have a personal or financial conflict of interest. This bill changes the definition of family for the Board of Fisheries so that conflicts of interest are based on dependent family members, as is the case for members of the legislature. HB 41 allows commercial and sport charter fishermen, after full disclosure, to deliberate but not vote on fishing issues if they have a conflict based on their direct participation in a fishery.


• HB 11 protects Alaska's interest in the event that a dispute arises pertaining to an oil and gas lease. HB 11 requires state oil and gas leases to be construed in favor of the state if a provision is unclear. This will help Alaska avoid protracted legal maneuvering by large multinational corporations and will help expedite the development of our oil and gas resources.