Lawmakers hear HB220 to speed easements for utilities in state parks; utilities urge swift action In a first hearing on HB220, sponsor Representative Kevin McCabe and staff said the bill would require DNR to grant easements when statutory criteria are met, establish a 60-day decision deadline, and allow automatic approval if DNR fails to act; utilities and the Alaska Telecom Association supported the bill, citing permitting delays that threaten broadband and reliability projects.

House Bill 220 aims to streamline easements in Alaska’s state parks, tackling the costly delays that threaten vital utility projects and broadband expansion.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #AlaskaStateParks #EnvironmentalProtection #InfrastructureDevelopment #UtilityRegulation

Decision Point State Marine Park, Alaska. This wild country is all about clouds, mountains, water, and ice.

#DecisionPointStateMarinePark #Alaska #AlaskaStateParks #AlaskaSunset #Landscape #WildAlaska #MountainSunset

I would call this a unique moment in 2024, except it not only happened in NH but also in August in AK. Main difference was that in AK the sow was aware of me and kept waiting for me to back away before coming with her cubs—one black and one cinnamon. #bearvideo #alaska #alaskastateparks #wildlife