new fish habitat permit

[Brian Berkhahn]

It's about time Dennis.. been trying forever to get you to join.

Just an update, I've been contacted by multiple biologists from the ADF&G that want to talk to me about the new permit.. I told them I'd be happy to talk with them so now I'm just waiting on them to give me a time and place. From what I'm hearing it sounds like only Kenai has the new permit out.. is that true? Anybody seen a new one from from Mat-Su or Anchorage?

[DavidRamey]

Brian,
I would be happy to join you when you talk to the biologists.

[Steve Herschbach]

Dennis, join and I owe you breakfast. You NEED to be in with us. You care, we care, the AMA cares.

[minerdude]

Brian, Mat-SU resident fish permit was the same text as Kenai, just a new heading,and the streams that are included on that permit. They signed mine for MAT-Su resident fish on the spot.

[Brian Berkhahn]

Just got back with a very good meeting with Ron Benkert and Mike Bethe of the Habitat division in Palmer. Apparently all permits start with them then they get distributed through out Alaska. They completely changed the New (old) permit, they said the permit that is being issued over the counter this year shouldn't have been given out as it was just a draft so everyone who has one of the "new" permits will be sent the newest and greatest permit. They took off the stupid 2.5hp limit, changed the nozzel size and took out the fill in your dredge hole stipulation. Personally as far as permits go I can definately live with this one.. it's been pretty much put back to where it was.

Oh yeah, and there is no more stupid "Hand Tools" permit. Ron said he looked at that and thought that was just plain stupid!

Ron & Mike even asked to be more involved in the Small Scale miner meetings to hear what people have to say. These guys are absolutely NOT anti-mining and I didn't get even the slightest hint that they might be. I can honestly say these guys have gone above and beyond of what was necessary. We went over way to much for me to sit here and type out but if anyone ever gets a chance to thank these guys they really need to do so. And anybody who knows me knows that's saying alot.

If there was a way to put a pdf of the new permits on here I would.

[DavidRamey]

Thanks Brian for proving to me that joining AMA was money well spent. I feel joining AMA is an investment into my future.

[Steve Herschbach]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I did not make the meeting but I knew it was in good hands. Thanks for the happy ending. Anyone with the interim and now defunct permit should trash it and get the new one when available.

[Brian Berkhahn]

Just remembered there was one little thing.. On the Small Scale mining permits they also did away with the 1'x1' screened box that they wanted people to put over their footvalve HOWEVER they said the holes on the footvalve have to be 1/8".

At the end of this year Ron & Mike want to regroup with miners again and see if there is anything that needs to be "tweaked" in the rules and stipulations. They are working side by side with Leslie Tose from the Army Corp and Nick Dallman from the DEC to make permiting better for everyone. For those who don't know who Leslie and Nick are.. they are pretty good people and have been working with the AMA for atleast the last year.

Steve.. don't feel bad, John Hoppe didn't show up either. We waited for you but after about 15 min we decided you must've gotten tied up at AMDS.

David.. Thanks, we try to keep these agencies under control :-).

[Steve Herschbach]

Thanks Brian - I am beyond tied up these days. And you are doing a great job.

[outnaboutnak]

First off, thank you Brian for following up on this and getting some answers for whats going on. I cant believe that they would completely rework a permit, then send it out to others, who in turn disperse it to the public, then go back and decide that parts were "stupid". Who's accountable for what was written? What if no one had challenged the changes? More inept goverment at work.