"Alaska Salmon Initiative Draws A Powerful Foe: Oil, Mining Money"

"Alaska is in the midst of a divisive civil war over a ballot initiative that pits the state's revered wild salmon fisheries against its powerful oil and mining industries.

In the Nov. 6 general election, Alaska residents will be asked to adopt strict new permitting regulations for developing any projects with the potential to affect salmon habitat.

Supporters of Ballot Measure 1 argue that the current permitting rules are outdated and ineffective. They're asking voters to adopt eight pages of new policy that would, among other things, require state regulators to write specific scientific standards to define salmon protection and habitat."

Margaret Kriz Hobson reports for EnergyWire October 26, 2018.