Daily Sitka Sentinel

May 19, 2023, Community Happenings

Climate Connection: Cruise Ship Pollution

Last week, this column addressed scrubbers that convert air pollution in smoke stack emissions to water pollution and ocean acidification. A midsize ship in a 7-day trip will generate about 210 million liters of scrubber waste water. The carbon dioxide from burning fuel oil passes by the wet extraction procedure into the atmosphere, contributing to transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. A mid-size cruise ship generates an estimated 2,800 tons of carbon dioxide in a 7-day trip to Alaska. What else do we worry about?

These giant hotels, taller than any building in Sitka, generate about 30 liters of sewage per passenger per day. This waste is treated. In addition, about 250 liters of waste water (gray water) is generated per passenger per day from showers, pools, laundry, etc. Washington state does not allow this waste water to be discharged in state waters, which results in massive amounts of untreated waste water being discharged in Canadian waters en route to Alaska.

About one-third of cruise ships have no discharge permits in Alaska, which increases the burden in Canadian waters. Ballast water discharge and biofouling of ship hulls increase the risk of introducing invasive species from elsewhere into our waters. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that 75-85% of cruise ship solid waste is incinerated onboard, the remainder being off-loaded in Victoria, British Columbia. Incineration is another source of carbon dioxide and air pollution.

For those of us concerned about community greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon dioxide from diesel generators while the cruise ships are in port far exceeds what our municipal electric  department generates to supply Sitka residents and businesses with electricity. After all, the cruise ships have to burn fossil fuels to supply electricity for lights, heat, hot water, cooking, ventilation, elevators, and more while idling at the docks as their passengers explore Sitka. We have clean hydropower to supply our electricity, even though the majority of us still use fuel oil for heating and gasoline for transportation.

Transportation of cruise ship passengers on diesel buses also generates greenhouse gas emissions, adding to what Sitka residents generate from land transportation, excluding the more than 100 electric vehicle owners in Sitka. Last December, the Department of Energy consultation through the Energy Transition Initiative Partnership Program revealed that our two hydropower dams cannot supply enough energy to electrify both building heating and land transportation for Sitka residents as we decrease our carbon footprint. We can conclude that we do not have enough hydropower in the long run to electrify our docks and tourist buses for a near doubling of our population when several giant cruise ships are in town. 

For that, we need new renewable energy sources, as well as enhanced transmission lines on Halibut Point Road beyond Sea Mart.

Our Assembly needs public involvement about both energy planning for the future and right-sizing tourism starting now, with attention to how we decrease our contribution to global warming, the existential crisis of our time.

––Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka

Lutheran Volunteers

From North Carolina

Merrilee and Ken Jacobson, North Carolina residents, are serving Sitka Lutheran Church as volunteers this month.

Retirees with a varied set of professional experiences, the Jacobsons bring their faith, energy and multiple skills to Sitka Lutheran Church, a news release said. 

They will greet tourists, run the popcorn machine and help maintain the church building. Proclaiming the Gospel, helping with garage sales for Youth Mission Travel, and explaining Sitka Lutheran’s rich Finnish-Lutheran history to tourists are included in their duties.

Sitka Lutheran has sponsored teens going to Jamaica, Indonesia, Florida, Canada, New Orleans and Montana for relief efforts involving floods, hurricanes and  health care.   

The Rev. Sandra Rudd leads Sunday morning worship services held at 10:30 a.m. in the building and on Zoom.  

For information call the church office at 907-747-3338, visit the church’s web site at: http://www.sitkalutheranchurch.org/ or e-mail the office at slc.admin@acsalaska.net.  

Farewell May 27

For Father Ishmal

The public is invited to a farewell luncheon for Father Ishmael Andrew and family 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the ANB Founders Hall.

The Andrews, who have served in Sitka since 2017, will be traveling to their new assignment near Bethel early in June.

     The parish will be providing food for the meal, but potluck donations by attendees are welcome. In addition, a  money tree will be available to help with the moving expenses of the family. 

     The parish extended appreciation to the members of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 for their offering of the kitchen, coffee and tea, paper products, and other items, and to Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 for donating the use of the hall.

     Those wishing to contribute dishes to the meal are asked to contact Sisterhood representative Cheryl Duncan at (907)738-1676.

Salmon Release

Party May 26

Sitka Sound Science Center is planning a salmon release party 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, to help send off the hatchery salmon.

Guests can release individual salmon throughout the event. Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips and s’mores will be available at a bonfire on the beach. The suggested donation is $5 per person.

Sitkan Earns

Second Master’s

Jarred Rivera earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Alaska Southeast on May 5.

In 2021, he earned a master’s degree in teaching at University of Phoenix. He received a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science at Oregon State University in 2015. 

Rivera is now employed by Sitka High School, from which he graduated in 2008. He is the son of Janet Vidad and the late Mario Rivera. He and his wife Jami have two children, Jeter Addison Rivera and Baylor Joe Rivera.

Wooch.een Meeting

Set for May 25

The Sitka Health Summit Coalition’s monthly Wooch.een (‘‘together’’ in Tlingit) health networking and learning meeting will be held noon-1 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at 1212 Seward Avenue/SEARHC Community Health Services Building (first floor conference room).

The purpose of the meeting is to spark partnerships and to promote cross sector collaboration, learning, and networking to improve the well-being in Sitka. Those with questions can contact Amanda Roberts at amandar@searhc.org.

STA Health

Panel to Meet

Sitka Tribe of Alaska Health and Human Services Committee will meet noon Friday, May 26, via Zoom.

The meeting is open to the public. E-mail melonie.boord@sitkatribe-nsn.gov for the Zoom link.