2018 AK Governor's race: on Environment

Bill Walker: Opposes "Stand for Salmon"; we need development instead

A: Walker is a "no" on Ballot Measure 1. He said he was a "no" before the Alaska Supreme Court ruled the initiative could go on the November ballot with some adjustments. He said he has been cautioned that, as governor, he needed to be careful about wading into the debate. But, to be clear, he said, he's still a "no."

"It concerns me a great deal as an Alaskan, as what I'm trying to do as governor on bringing companies here, doing development in Alaska," he said. "An initiative is a blunt instrument and it's one that doesn't have the kind of back and forth that you normally would have in this kind of legislation, what would happen in Juneau on a piece of legislation such as this."

Mark Begich: Supports the "Stand for Salmon" ballot measure

A: Begich said he's a "yes" on Ballot Measure 1. It allows a "right to know," he said. "If there's going to be a megaproject, the public gets to be involved from a state perspective. They get to have comment. If there's mitigation requirements, they're going to have to uphold those mitigation requirements," he said. He said state lawmakers could have passed a bill that addressed the issue.

"The back and forth that the governor talks about is a great idea, but where were these guys when the debate was supposed to be happening? Why weren't they talking about this?" he said. "Instead, 45,000 people got a little upset at the government. That's how the initiative process works . That's how it works when the legislative system breaks.

Mike Dunleavy: Opposes the "Stand for Salmon" ballot measure

A: Dunleavy said he's a "no" on Ballot Measure 1. "We have environmental protections in place," he said. "If Ballot Measure 1 passes or similar measures pass and we continue to tighten up on our ability to create projects and put people to work, I don't know where we're going to get the money. I don't know what's going to become of Alaska."

Mike Dunleavy: Monetize timber instead of letting it burn or rot

But for the most part, we don't manage our resources well in the state of Alaska. Timber, for example. What we do now in the state of Alaska is we basically let the timber just burn or rot and fall down. We don't put it to use. We don't monetize it.

The 300,000 barrels of oil that we have recently discovered on the North Slope, we need to get that into the pipeline as soon as possible. That will lower the tariff costs for the pipeline, providing more money for the state, royalties and taxes. This will provide the revenue we need for our programs.

So at this stage of the game, with oil revenues, prices of oil at about $70 a barrel, we may not have to cut like we had to or we envisioned a few years ago when oil was at $26 a barrel.

Bill Walker: Open Donlin goldmine; deal with mercury & cyanide monitoring

"I have to have a pretty strong reason to not support something and so I'm still looking at that, but what I know of it I'm comfortable with," Walker said.

The Donlin mine will require large treatment facilities for mercury and cyanide coming from the mine's operations. The Y-K Delta would have to be monitored forever, once it ceases operations.

Gov. Walker says he doesn't see the state relaxing monitoring enforcement, even with the budget crunch the last couple of years. He's confident the state can adequately regulate the mine. "We certainly we have laws in place," Walker said. "I believe if we need to strengthen those laws, then let's strengthen those laws."

Mark Begich: Gold mine can co-exist with Native subsistence lifestyle

The Donlin mine would increase barge traffic on the Kuskokwim River, the food source for many residents in the Y-K Delta. It will require large treatment facilities for mercury and cyanide coming from the mine's operations. Donlin has already received a water permit from the state to discharge wastewater into Crooked Creek, which drains into the Kuskokwim River.

People living the Y-K Delta are also worried about what will happen after the mine stops producing. The site would have to be monitored forever, once it ceases operations.

Mead Treadwell: Mines employ a lot of people; open Donlin gold mine

The Donlin mine will require large treatment facilities for mercury and cyanide coming from the mine's operations. The Y-K Delta would have to be monitored forever, once it ceases operations.

Gov. Walker says he doesn't see the state relaxing monitoring enforcement, even with the budget crunch the last couple of years. Walker's competitors tout other benefits of the Donlin mine. Former Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell is running as a Republican. Treadwell praises Donlin's promise to bring more jobs to the Y-K Delta.

"There are mines around the state that employ a lot of people and it's one of the most important things we can do for regional development," Treadwell said.

Bill Walker: State should address climate change