State lawmakers filed a flurry of bills Friday ahead of next week's legislative session, adding a few dozen measures to a growing stack that now includes a proposal that would require legislative approval for projects like the heavily debated Pebble mine.
That proposal, from Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, refers to a "large-scale metallic sulfide mining operation that could affect water in or flowing into or over the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve."
The measure takes clear aim at the controversial Pebble mine proposal, defining "large-scale metallic sulfide mining operation" as one that extracts metals, such as copper and gold, and would affect at least 640 acres of land.
Pebble is near one of the world's premier salmon fisheries and has been the subject of an intense ad campaign.
French said Friday that state law spells out the same legislative approval process for oil and gas projects that could affect the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. He said that "strong precedent" should help advance what he considers an important piece of legislation.
The Legislature last year authorized up to $750,000 for an independent study of the requirements related to large mine development in the state. Prior authorizations for studies related to Pebble stalled.
The bill that requires warnings outside airport screening areas, HB270, was from Reps. Sharon Cissna and Max Gruenberg, both Anchorage Democrats. Cissna made national headlines last year when, at a Seattle airport, she refused what she considered to be an invasive pat-down.
Cissna has since avoided airports with body scanners, making it difficult to efficiently and quickly travel to and from Alaska, or even within Alaska. She also has been outspoken in her frustration with the techniques used by Transportation Security Administration, saying she hears from people around the country who feel violated or harassed.
Last week, 30 new measures were filed ahead of the session. Bills that were alive at the end of the last session will remain in play when lawmakers reconvene for their 90-day session Tuesday.
Altogether, 28 proposals were filed Friday, including:
• A proposed cut in interest rates on student loans for Alaskans who put their skills to work in the state.
• A requirement that airports post warning signs that passengers are subject to body searches by physical touch.
• A permanent absentee-voting option.
• Two bills that would require certain information be made public by oil companies when applying for tax credits.
• A low-interest loan program for homeowners to convert their homes to natural gas-fired heating.
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