Prison location questioned

Dec. 22, 2006

By Michael Rovito

Frontiersman

POINT MACKENZIE - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is concerned that a prison at Point MacKenzie would be detrimental to fragile wetland habitat near the proposed site.

The department does not express opposition to the Point MacKenzie site, but calls for steps to be taken to minimize potential negative effects on the surrounding Goose Bay State Game Refuge.

A letter written by Fish and Game habitat biologist Ellen Simpson points out the high level of concern wildlife officials have for the refuge, which, according to the letter, was established in 1975 by the Legislature. The site is now a prime resting and feeding ground for migrating birds on their trips north and south, along with serving as a prime location for hunting.

The legislative designation is highlighted near the end of the letter when Simpson writes the refuge was &#8220specifically designated by the Legislature to protect and preserve natural habitat, especially for waterfowl.”

A message left with Simpson was not immediately returned.

Simpson goes on to express concern about the impact water well withdrawal by the prison will have on the refuge. What's more, Simpson points out that there is no mention of the Point MacKenzie site's location next to a game refuge in borough documents.

Ron Swanson, the borough's director of community development, and the individual Simpson's letter is addressed to, is traveling in Germany and was unavailable for comment.

Speaking in his place, borough director of planning and land use, Murph O'Brien, said the Department of Fish and Game's concerns are being taken seriously by the borough, while touting the amount of flexibility the Point MacKenzie site has.

He said he could not answer why no mention of the wetlands appears in borough documents dealing with the prison site.

&#8220The one nice thing about the Point MacKenzie site is there is a significant amount of acreage the borough owns,” O'Brien said.

That means planners have room to make adjustments as they attempt to minimize any negative effects the proposed prison might have on wetland ecosystem.

&#8220We'll do what we can to minimize the impact at the game refuge,” O' Brien said.

The borough is now being asked by Simpson to perform a &#8220more complete” hydrological analysis to more accurately determine the effects a prison might have on the refuge.

Perhaps one of the most concerned citizens in the matter is Garvin Bucaria, who has become a fixture at public meetings and routinely uses his three-minute public testimony time to berate the borough on the refuge situation in Point MacKenzie.

&#8220I think we're being stonewalled,” said Bucaria, a former Forest Service biologist who owns property near the refuge.

He pointed out what he calls drainage problems that would be associated with the prison and its elevation above the Goose Bay State Game Refuge, sending much of the runoff directly into the wetlands. Like Simpson, Bucaria said there is more analyses and investigation needed in the area if the prison winds up in Point MacKenzie.

&#8220There is no emphasis on downstream effects,” Bucaria said. &#8220No emphasis on trying to protect resources.”

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.