HIGHLIGHTS: STATE AGENCIES HAVE INITIATIVES UNDERWAY TO STIMULATE GROWTH AND REVERSE OUT-MIGRATION OF WORKING-AGE ALASKAN ADULTS. STATE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON “TELLING ALASKA’S STORY” TO THE NATION; ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT WORKS TO ENSURE CLEAR PATH FOR INDUSTRY PERMITS. MODERATOR: CASEY SULLIVAN, Government and Public Affairs, Marathon Petroleum PANEL: n JOHN BOYLE, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources n JULIE SANDE, Commissioner Department of Community, Commerce & Economic Development n ADAM CRUM, Commissioner, Department of Revenue n EMMA POKON, Commissioner-designee, Department of Environmental Conservation n RYAN ANDERSON, Commissioner, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities KEY POINTS: n Efficient transportation key to economy n Marketing Alaska, and telling our own story n Environmental permits must be legally defensible DISCUSSION: Adam Crum: We are the taxing department. We collect the revenues for the state, and we have relationships when it comes to credit ratings, agencies, and banks. What’s exciting is to take this in a new direction. How do we connect with interested parties and investors to make sure we get projects going? Emma Pokon: At DEC, our mission is to protect human health and the environment and the economic and social well-being of Alaskans. We do the air permitting, water permitting and the solid waste permitting. Our agency ensures that responsible resource development can happen. Julie Sande: Our mission at the Department of Commerce, is to promote a healthy economy and strong communities. Sometimes when you have limited resources it’s a challenge, so we try to keep it simple. We have seven divisions: The division of Insurance, Banking and Securities; our Division of Investments, which has a large portfolio of loans, and we have our Division of Community and Regional Affairs. We’ve added the Alaska Broadband Office. Among other things is international trade. We also have the eight corporate agencies: The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, AIDEA, AEA, the railroad, AGDC, (the gas line) and quasi-judicial regulatory agencies like the RCA and AOGCC. Ryan Anderson: The transportation history of Alaska is so interesting, and it goes back to the 1800s, and further, with how Native Alaskans and the Russians travelled and then the Gold Rush era roads and trails. Looking at transportation holistically helps us think in new ways. The 237 airports that DOTPF operates is more than any other state, and we have the international airports in Fairbanks and Anchorage. On the highway system, we have around 11,000 to 12,000 centerline miles of roads and about 35 maintenance stations. We have people and equipment all over the state that are taking care of all that infrastructure. We are a big organization with over 3,000 people. TransA CONVERSATION WITH ALASKA’S STATE COMMISSIONERS 26 ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW WINTER 2024
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