Alaska State Legislature

Juneau Delegation
Senator Dennis Egan Representative Beth Kerttula Representative Cathy Muoz

Alaska State Capitol

Juneau, Alaska 99801

Taku River Fact-Finding Task Force to meet in early January

Meetings to be held in the Alaska State Capitol, House Finance Committee Room, Room 519 Thursday, January 5, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon For immediate release December 29, 2011

Juneau, Alaska The Taku River Fact-Finding Task Force will hold its first two meetings next week to address possible impacts on the popular waterway south of Juneau due to development of the Tulsequah Chief Mine in British Columbia. Juneaus legislative delegation announced the creation of the task force last September. Since then, it has named eight people to serve on it and a facilitator to help run it. The eight members include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. John Katasse, an Alaska Native with ties to the Taku River, Cherie Rudolph, an owner of private recreational property along the Taku River, Michael Ward, an owner of commercial recreational property along the Taku River, Len Peterson, a Southeast Alaska salmon commercial fishing permit holder, Jim Erickson, a commercial fish processor dependent on Taku River fish, Richard Yamada, a licensed sport fishing guide in the Juneau area, Mike Peterson, a sport fisherman; and, Paul Kissner, a non-governmental biologist.

The facilitator is Kevin Ritchie, a former city manager for the City and Borough of Juneau. Were pleased to have nine good people who are willing to take time from their busy lives to review the biological health of Taku River fish stocks, habitat, and game resources, Juneau Senator Dennis Egan said. Weve asked them to look into which agencies are responsible for monitoring the well-being of the river and assess the effectiveness of current state and federal statutes and regulations. The meetings will be held in the Alaska State Capitol in the House Finance Committee Room, Room 519, on Thursday, January 5, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Juneau legislative delegation

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December 29, 2011

Draft Agendas
Meeting 1, January 5, 2012, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Alaska State Capitol, House Finance Committee Room, Room 519 Organization of the task force and Taku River values (20 minutes) Introductions, discussion with Juneau legislative delegation (10 minutes) Mission, process and procedural ground rules, facilitator, agendas, speakers (25 minutes) Statements of task force members about how their respective user groups value the river and questions about how to meet the task forces fact-finding mission. (30 minutes) Ed Jones and Charlie Swanton, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, on fish runs and characteristics of spawning and rearing habitat. (30 minutes) Randy Bates and Jackie Timothy, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, on permitting. (30 minutes) Public questions and feedback. (15 minutes) Discussion by task force members about the information provided, additional information needed, and future meeting agendas.

Meeting 2, Saturday, January 7, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to noon Alaska State Capitol, House Finance Committee Room, Room 519 Current regulatory protections for Taku River fisheries (30 minutes) Recap of previous meeting and discussion about future meetings and topics. (45 minutes) Kyle Moselle, Department of Natural Resources, Office of Project Management and Permitting. (20 minutes) - Status of planned industrial development. Chieftain Metals, developers of the Tulsequah Chief Mine, have been invited to attend. (45 minutes) Public questions and feedback. (30 minutes) Discussion by task force members about strategic planning for the future such as additional information and resources needed, future meeting agendas, and more.

#### For more information, contact: Kevin Ritchie, Taku River Fact-Finding Task Force Facilitator, 957-1599 Sen. Dennis Egan, 465-4947 Rep. Beth Kerttula, 465-4766 Rep. Cathy Muoz, 465-3744

Attachment: Taku River Fact-Finding Task Force plan.

Juneau legislative delegation

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December 29, 2011