SITKA, AK- On Wednesday May 9, Alaska Arts Southeast will release a new video showcasing a community-driven volunteer effort to revitalize the Sheldon Jackson Campus, a National Historic Landmark.  The video aims to attract state-wide and national attention to the incredible community effort that has put 23,0000 volunteer hours into making repairs, restoring and cleaning up the historic campus built in the early 1900s.

Sheldon Jackson College shut its doors in 2007 and the campus buildings were sadly boarded up. In February 2011, the non-profit Alaska Arts Southeast (better known as the Sitka Fine Arts Camp or SFAC) became owners of the 20 buildings set on the quadrangle campus.  Each summer for 36 years, Sitka Fine Arts Camp has attracted students from 30+ Alaskan communities to Sitka to receive instruction from professional artists from all over the country. The Fine Arts Camp was named one of the best summer arts programs in the country by the National Endowment of the Arts.  In partnership with other local non-profits, Alaska Arts Southeast hopes to make the campus a place to celebrate art and science and education year round.

Photo was taken by James Poulson, May 5, 2012

Independent filmmaker, Hannah Guggenheim, was grabbed by the story of a community coming together to make a difference – for future generations to experience this unique place.  Guggenheim made her first video on the topic immediately after the transfer of the Campus in 2011. It highlighted the volunteerism that made possible the re-opening of the first SFAC Campus building: the Hames Health and Wellness Center (a gymnasium).  The gym now has over 500 members.

On May 9,, Guggenheim will release her second film about this uplifting community project. The video focuses on Allen Memorial Hall. Built in 1911, the building is over 100 years old.  In 1996, the building was scheduled to be torn down and in 1999 was listed as one of the nation’s Most Endangered Buildings. It has not been used since the early 1990’s when it was closed for restoration. This summer, is will be the location of the kick-off for a summer festival on the Campus, funded, in part, by the NEA’s Our Town Grant initiative.

Watch the video and share the story. Your support will help make a vibrant Arts Campus for locals and visitors alike. Go to www.facebook.com/savethecampus or sitkacampus.org.

Olson, Development Coordinator
Phone: (907) 747-3085
Email: cassi@fineartscamp.org
Web:  sitkacampus.org
Office: P.O. Box 3086, Sitka, AK 99835

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is extending the deadline for nominations for five open positions on its Alaska Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The deadline for nominations is June 4, 2012. Application and Nomination Packet

“Citizen-based recommendations from the Resource Advisory Councils enhance our ability to manage public lands and achieve multiple-use goals,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The people who live, work, and recreate near or on BLM-managed lands deserve a formal voice in the planning process and their input serves as a valuable tool in the decision-making process.”

Resource Advisory Councils make recommendations to the BLM regarding public land and resource management, including land-use planning, recreation, and fire management. The Bureau is looking for a diverse group of people representing industry, environmental organizations, historical and archaeological groups, state and local governments, Indian tribes, Native organizations and groups, and the general public.

“The RAC provides feedback on the unique values and issues on BLM-managed land in Alaska.” said Bud Cribley, BLM-Alaska State Director, “They are a valuable resource I can call on for perspectives and suggestions on the management of our resources such as recreation, land use planning, subsistence, mining, and oil and gas development.”

In its review of candidates, the BLM will evaluate individuals on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographical area.  Nominees for the BLM-Alaska RAC, must be residents of Alaska, must complete a nomination form and submit a letter of reference.  Nominees can also submit additional information that speaks to their qualifications. All nominations will be given full consideration.

The BLM, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 28 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located.  The BLM-Alaska RAC consists of 15 members with an interest in public land management.  Members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve an initial three-year term and may be reappointed to serve additional three-year terms. The diverse membership of each RAC is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

The five RAC positions open in Alaska are in the following categories:

Category One – One vacancy.  Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.

Category Two – One vacancy.  Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.

Category Three – Three vacancies.  Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources; representatives of Indian Tribes or Native organizations and groups within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; representatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural sciences; and the public-at-large.

Nominations should be sent by June 4, 2012 to BLM-Alaska, Attn:  BLM-Alaska, Thom Jennings, 222 W. 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513.  Nominations may also be faxed to (907) 271-5421 or emailed to tjenning@blm.gov.

For more information on Resource Advisory Councils, please visit the Bureau of Land Management Website.  A link to the nomination forms and other RAC information may be found on the BLM-Alaska website at:  www.blm.gov/ak

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land – the most of any Federal agency.  This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska.  The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs.  The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends.  In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget.  The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Contact: Artealia Gilliard (907-271-4418), agilliard@blm.gov
Thom Jennings (907-271-3335), tjenning@blm.gov

Submitted by:
Ruth F. McCoard
Deputy Chief, Office of Communications
BLM-Alaska State Office
222 W. 7^th Avenue, Suite 13
Anchorage, AK  99513-7504
907-271-3322 Office

Interior Releases Draft Rule Requiring Public Disclosure of Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing on Public and Indian Lands

Commonsense Measures Will Support Safe and Responsible Increased Production of America’s Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In support of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, and the Obama administration’s goal of continuing to expand responsible oil and gas production, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the release of a proposed rule to require companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations on public and Indian lands, with appropriate protections for proprietary information.

Currently, there is no specific requirement for operators to disclose these chemicals on federal and Indian lands, where approximately 90 percent of the wells drilled use hydraulic fracturing to greatly increase the volume of oil and gas available for production. The proposed rule would require public disclosure of chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing after fracturing operations have been completed.

This common-sense measure, which builds on the preliminary input received from the public, industry, tribal representatives, and other stakeholders, supports the continued development of America’s abundant oil and gas resources on federal and Indian lands by taking steps to ensure public confidence in well stimulation techniques and technologies, including hydraulic fracturing. It is also in line with steps that some states have already taken, requiring operators to disclose the chemicals they use in activities on state lands.

The draft rule, which can be viewed here along with economic analysis and an appendix, also contains two additional, commonsense measures to ensure development continues safely and responsibly:

• Improving assurances on well-bore integrity to verify that fluids used in wells during fracturing operations are not escaping; and
• Confirming that oil and gas operators have a water management plan in place for handling fracturing fluids that flow back to the surface.

Already, technological advancements like hydraulic fracturing have allowed development of previously uneconomic natural gas and oil deposits. In fact, since 2008, U.S. oil and natural gas production has increased each year. In 2011, U.S. crude oil production reached its highest level in 8 years, and U.S. natural gas production grew in 2011 as well – the largest year-over-year volumetric increase in history – easily eclipsing the previous all-time production record set in 1973. Overall, oil imports have been falling since 2005, and oil import dependence declined from 57 percent in 2008 to 45 percent in 2011 – the lowest level since 1995.

During the first three years of the Obama Administration combined, federal oil production has increased by 13 percent and total natural gas production from onshore public lands has increased by six percent, compared with totals from 2006-2008. This proposed rule will strengthen the requirements for hydraulic fracturing performed on federal and Indian lands in order to build public confidence and protect the health of American communities, while ensuring continued access to the important resources that make up our energy economy.

“As the President has made clear, this administration’s energy strategy is an all-out effort to boost American production of every available source of energy,” said Secretary Salazar. “As we continue to offer millions of acres of America’s public lands for oil and gas development, it is critical that the public have full confidence that the right safety and environmental protections are in place. The proposed rule will modernize our management of well stimulation activities – including hydraulic fracturing – to make sure that fracturing operations conducted on public and Indian lands follow common-sense industry best practices.”
The measures contained in the draft rule are consistent with the goals first outlined by Secretary Salazar in November 2010 during a forum on hydraulic fracturing on public lands to examine best practices to ensure that natural gas on federal and Indian lands is developed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

In developing the proposed rule, Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sought feedback from a wide range of sources, governments, industry, members of the public and other interested stakeholders.

Under the Department’s unique relationship with Indian tribes, BLM began formal tribal consultations in January 2012 – including outreach, communication and substantive discussions – with tribal governments about the proposed rule’s ongoing development, in the spirit of trust, respect and shared responsibility in providing tribal governments an expanded role in informing federal policy that impacts Indian lands. Consultation with tribal leaders remains ongoing and will continue throughout the rulemaking process.

Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, a 60-day public comment period will begin, during which the public, governments, industry and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide their input.

“The BLM recognizes the importance of all domestic energy sources to the welfare and security of this nation,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The proposed rule will move our nation forward as we ensure responsible development while protecting public land resources.”

Current BLM regulations governing hydraulic fracturing operations on public lands are more than 30 years old and were not written to address modern hydraulic fracturing activities.

The proposed rule seeks to maximize flexibility, minimize duplication and complement ongoing efforts in some states to regulate fracturing activities by providing a consistent standard across all federal and Indian lands and making reported information easily accessible to the public. For instance, the BLM is working closely with the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission in an effort to integrate the disclosure called for in the proposed rule with the existing program known as FracFocus.

Also in line with President Obama’s April 13 Executive Order to coordinate the efforts of federal agencies responsible for overseeing domestic natural gas development, the proposed rule released today received important interagency feedback.

Recent technology and operational improvements in extracting unconventional oil and gas resources have increased drilling activities across the country. The sharp rise in domestic production has improved U.S. energy security and created jobs, and as with any resource the administration is committed to ensuring that we continue to leverage these resources on federal and Indian lands safely and responsibly.

The proposed rule would apply to BLM-managed mineral estate, including 700 million subsurface acres of federal estate and 56 million subsurface acres of Indian mineral estate.

Contact: Adam Fetcher (DOI) 202 208-6416
Megan Crandall (BLM) (202) 912-7411

Submitted by:
Ruth F. McCoard
Deputy Chief, Office of Communications
BLM-Alaska State Office
222 W. 7^th Avenue, Suite 13
Anchorage, AK  99513-7504
907-271-3322 Office