Governor Palin 4 President

Anchorage, AK – Governor Palin today made appointments to the Alaska Children’s Trust Board, Marine Transportation Advisory Board, Municipal Bond Bank Authority & State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board.

Alaska Children’s Trust Board
The Governor appointed Ramona M. Reeves & reappointed Margaret A. Volz to the Alaska Children’s Trust Board.
The 7-member board seeks to prevent child abuse & neglect in the state by awarding grants from the Alaska Children’s Trust’s net income to community-based programs, by applying for private & federal grants, & by soliciting contributions to the Trust. Reeves was appointed to a public seat. Volz has served on the board since 2007 & was reappointed to a public seat.

Marine Transportation Advisory Board
The Governor appointed Seth D. Church & Patrick A. Owen to the Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB).
The 11-member board advises the state on issues related to the AK Marine Highway System, the state’s ferry service. Board members work with the Department of Transportation to prepare a strategic plan for the ferry system that includes objectives, initiatives & performance goals, consults with the transportation commissioner on appointing the ferry system’s director, & makes recommendations regarding state ferry service to The Governor & transportation commissioner. Church was appointed to an at-large seat on MTAB, & is one of 2 members residing in a community not directly served by the state ferry system. Owen was appointed to a seat reserved for a current or retired ferry employee & member of a union representing ferry workers.

Municipal Bond Bank Authority
The Governor appointed Gregory J. Gursey to the Municipal Bond Bank Authority board of directors.
The Authority is a public corporation, established in state law to help local governments finance capital projects. Its 5-member board borrows money & issues bonds & notes to make capital funds available for borrowing by Anchorage municipalities, & in turn receives bonds & notes from Alaska municipalities. Gursey was appointed to a public seat on the Bond Bank board.

State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board
The Governor appointed Dr. Darin M. Bell to the State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board.
The 5-member board serves as the state’s licensing board for physical & occupational therapists, issuing licenses, taking disciplinary action against those who violate licensing laws & issuing regulations covering therapists. Bell was appointed to a physician’s seat on the board.

Full Article At:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1921

Anchorage, AK – Governor Palin today welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Kensington mine, a gold mining project near Juneau.

Today’s ruling reversed a decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals & confirmed the validity of a previously issued permit from the Corps of Engineers for disposal of tailings. The project is being developed by Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation.

The state supported Coeur’s legal efforts to move the project ahead at every level of court review, including intervening in the lawsuit at the outset, litigating the case in the 9th Circuit, filing a petition asking for review by the Supreme Court, & briefing the case in the Supreme Court on the merits.

Even securing Supreme Court review was an uphill battle, because the federal government itself, whose permit the 9th Circuit had invalidated, did not seek review. Only the State of Alaska and Coeur filed petitions.

In addition, the case involved complex issues of how to interpret and apply the federal Clean Water Act, issues which led the Supreme Court to take the unusual step of ordering the parties to file supplemental briefs a few weeks ago.

“This is great news for Alaska,” The Governor said. “Today’s ruling is a green light for responsible resource development. Kensington will produce as many as 370 well-paying jobs. We truly appreciate Coeur’s tenacity in pursuing the project & its dedication to hiring Alaskans to work at the mine.”

The state will continue to provide support through the Department of Labor’s workforce training and apprenticeship programs.

The Kensington mine is located 45 miles northwest of Juneau. Couer estimates the mine will be brought into production by the second half of 2010. The mine is expected to produce as many as 150,000 ounces of gold per year during its early stages of operation. Over the life of the mine, Kensington is expected to yield more than 1 million ounces of gold.