Coastal Management hearing in Wasilla

WASILLA — One of 10 hearings set up around the state on a ballot proposal to establish a new Alaska Coastal Management Program is at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, 1001 South Mack Dr., from 5 to 8 p.m., July 9.

Meetings also are planned in Kenai/Soldotna, Bethel, Anchorage, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Kodiak, Barrow, Ketchikan and Juneau before the measure appears on the primary ballot Aug. 28.

The hearings are required by Alaska Statute 15.45.195, which requires the lieutenant governor to hold at least eight hearings up to 30 days before the election in which an initiative is to appear on the ballot, with at least two hearings in each of Alaska’s four judicial districts.

By law, each hearing must include the written or oral testimony of one supporter and one opponent of the initiative.

The ACMP program that expired July 1, 2011, was administered by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The ballot initiative, which can be found at tinyurl.com/cjbx8l7, seeks to recreate the program to be managed by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.