State Announces Extension of Public Comment Period for 2016 Pink Salmon Disaster Relief Fund Draft Distribution Plan
— ADF&G Press Release

Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526

Press Release: September 5, 2018

CONTACT: Charles O. Swanton, Deputy Commissioner, Phone: (907) 465-4115

State Announces Extension of Public Comment Period for 2016 Pink Salmon Disaster Relief Fund Draft Distribution Plan

On August 30, 2018, Alaska Department of Fish & Game issued a press release announcing a public comment period for the 2016 pink salmon disaster fund draft distribution plan. That release, which also included a link to the distribution plan and directions for public comment (http://alaska.gov/go/D8T3), set a nine-day comment period. That timeline was based upon federally-imposed deadlines that the State must meet. Both ADF&G and the Governor's Office heard from pink salmon stakeholders who are concerned about the current nine-day comment period. Those concerns were taken to heart.

In response, the State of Alaska worked with the Alaska Regional Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to negotiate an extension of the comment period to 5:00 pm (AST) September 18, 2018. This will provide interested stakeholders an additional eleven days to provide public comment on the draft distribution plan. This negotiated extension by the State on behalf of Alaskans will not delay distribution of the $56.3 million in disaster funds and will facilitate a total comment period of twenty days