Southeast

State officials say they have no immediate plans to move the marine highway reservations office from Juneau to Ketchikan. But they confirm it is on a long-term list of possible system changes.

The office remained in the capital city when most other headquarters functions were relocated about seven years ago.

Ferry chief Mike Neussl says the Ketchikan headquarters does not have the space or bandwidth capacity needed for reservations.

“It’s not moving yet, or may be never moving. But it’s being studied based on looking at all different efficiencies and ways to make the marine highway system more efficient. We look at all avenues to do that,” he says.

The reservations office has 22 jobs. It’s in a relatively new building next to the state Transportation Department’s Southeast regional office near Juneau’s Glacier Highway.

Neussl says a move has been on a list of budget-review items for several years without action.

“It was in there again this year in that discussion as a potential efficiency for the marine highway system. It would take advantage of using that staff more than just for reservations, but making it more of a combined reservations and marketing staff. Right now our marketing staff is in Ketchikan and our reservations staff is in Juneau,” he says.

The marine highway system’s headquarters is in the old Ketchikan Pulp Company’s administration building in Ward Cove. Neussl is based in Juneau.

State officials are considering options for a new building at a nearby site. They’ve purchased land and have money for design.

Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young have introduced new versions of their Sealaska land-transfer bills. Murkowski’s measure was filed Tuesday, and Young’s was released Wednesday.Related Link: Hear the report and find links to bill information.

The latest version of the Sealaska land-selection bill changes how sacred sites will be chosen. It also limits their size and how they can be used. But the change concerns some tribal leaders.Related Link: Find links to more information and reports.

Most of the approximately 20 people speaking at Tuesday, Feb 22nd’s Craig community meeting on the Sealaska land-selection bill opposed parts of the measure.

Some worried about damage to subsistence or commercial fisheries. Others were concerned about the future of Forest Service timber harvests.

But most said the bill had improved since the last meeting in Craig, held last spring. And several speakers, including two Sealaska officials, backed the legislation as-is.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently updated the measure. She says more changes may come out of this meeting and one held in Ketchikan the day before.

Here’s an edited sampling of what was said. The first speaker is bill supporter Donna Jackson of Craig.Related Link: Find links to other Sealaska land bill reports.

Few people seem all that excited about the latest version of the Sealaska lands bill. Some oppose its terms, while others want to be done with changes and just get it passed. Meanwhile, a number of critics are pushing for more than the two town hall meetings on the bill are happening this week.Related Link: Find links to the legislation and groups on either side.

Every new session of Congress is a clean slate. Bills that didn’t pass in the previous two-year cycle disappear. It’s up to members of Congress to dust off their old bills and reintroduce them.

One of those that will soon get new life is the controversial Sealaska lands bill, which would give the Alaska Native Corporation the option to select different lands in the Tongass National Forest. As APRN’s Libby Casey reports from Washington, exactly what form the bill will take will soon be seen. This is our final report in a six-part series on the legislation.