Alaska governor takes aim at cruise ship monitoring program
Source: Associated Press
Alaska governor takes aim at cruise ship monitoring program
August 2, 2019
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A program that monitors Alaska’s cruise ships could be restructured by the governor’s administration, officials said.
The future remains uncertain for the Ocean Rangers program, CoastAlaska reported Thursday.
Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed line items equaling $444 million in reductions to Alaska’s operating budget in June. The cuts included the Ocean Rangers budget.
The state Legislature restored the program’s $3.4 million in passenger fee funding, but another veto is possible, officials said.
The rangers are licensed marine engineers who independently monitor cruise ship compliance with state and federal environmental laws. Voters approved the program in 2006.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/c9dc7d3fe69642348b2ec8578eb76ba6
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Source: CoastAlaska
Dunleavy administration seeks overhaul of Alaska’s cruise ship program
By Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska - Juneau - August 1, 2019
The Alaska Legislature has restored funding for the Ocean Rangers, but the future of the independent cruise ship monitors — as well as the state’s entire cruise ship program — is uncertain.
The Ocean Rangers were approved by voters in 2006, and advocates say they’ve been instrumental in protecting Alaska from pollution.
But the Dunleavy administration has other plans and it appears the state’s regulatory structure to oversee cruise ships may be radically restructured.
Ed White, the head of the state’s Cruise Ship Program, recently gave notice that he’d be leaving the Department of Environmental Conservation on August 1.
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Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/08/01/dunleavy-administration-seeks-overhaul-of-alaskas-cruise-ship-program/
