FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Governor Signs Bill, Joins Sitka Festivity

By BRIELLE SCHAEFFER

Sentinel Staff Writer

Under a backdrop of sunny skies today, Gov. Bill Walker signed into law a bill that exempts small cruise ships and ferries from wastewater discharge regulations.

Before leaving Sitka this afternoon the governor also took part in a celebration of wild salmon on the Crescent Harbor Dock.


Gov. Bill Walker signs a bill exempting small cruise ships and ferries from wastewater discharge regulations outside the Allen Marine boathouse today as members of the Allen family look on. (Sentinel Photo by Reber Stein)

 

“I love coming to Sitka,” Walker told a group gathered at the Allen Marine boathouse on Sawmill Creek Road for the signing of Senate Bill 3. “After my first time here my comment was, ‘why doesn’t everybody live here?’ ... I don’t sign nearly enough bills outside in the sun. I had to come to Sitka to get an outside bill-signing opportunity.”

Walker explained that the previous wastewater discharge exemption for small commercial passenger vessels had expired, and this bill reinstates it.

“This is a bill that saves a lot of hassle for a lot of people with smaller boats and the Alaska Marie Highway System as well,” he said. 

The state Legislature finished its third special session of the year at the end of July, passing a capital budget but leaving other work undone. There could be a fourth special session on revenues this fall if Walker calls for one. If not, lawmakers will be back at it after the beginning of the year.

This was the first time in years the governor has signed a bill into law in Sitka, said Sitka Sen. Bert Stedman, who also sponsored the legislation.

The bill is good for the economy and all of Southeast, he said. 

“It keeps everybody working so I don’t have to invite Dave (Allen) and the family over for codfish and potatoes because there are no jobs,” Stedman said. 

He said he was concerned about ferries not being able to meet the standards if the state didn’t pass the extension.

Rep. Jonathan Kriess-Tomkins was also on hand, and said he couldn’t have imagined a better setting for the bill signing.

“I’m glad the governor can put an autograph on the legislation and move Southeast Alaska forward,” he said.

Allen Marine is a good example of an Alaskan success story, Walker said, and is an inspiration for what the state needs to do to solve its financial woes. The boat construction company expanded into tourism to keep its business viable, he said.

“We need to diversify as Allen Marine has,” Walker said. “We’re Alaskans, not ‘Alaska-can’ts.’ We’re going to get through this.”

Over at Crescent Harbor, Walker joined several local fishermen, the Sitka Conservation Society and others in celebration of Wild Salmon Day, an annual day of observance that he declared last year. 

At a salmon luncheon catered by Ludvig’s Collette Nelson, Gavi Stroumer, modeling a salmon bone dress created by Cynthia Gibson, presented Walker with a whole coho.

“This is the first (salmon) I’ve literally laid hands on all year,” Walker said. “Since I became governor I haven’t gotten out and recreated as much as I used to.”

He told an anecdote about going to the White House for lunch while in Washington, D.C. for a governors conference and only “East Coast” salmon was on the menu.

“I know what that’s code for,” he said, adding he didn’t recommend it to the other governors.

“I’m a real believer in wild salmon,” he said.

Sitka Conservation Society Executive Director Andrew Thoms said he was thrilled the governor recognizes the importance of salmon. 

“Here we are in the middle of the Tongass National Forest, which is one of the world’s biggest producers of wild salmon,” he said. “We’re all working together to figure out how to sustainably manage the fisheries and protect the habitat that produces those salmon.”

After his Sitka stop Walker was headed for Ketchikan, where he was scheduled to sign two more bills this afternoon.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

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