 on Habitat Permitting Move February 21 , 2003
"As former commissioners at DOT, these men know first hand the trouble and delays the habitat division has been able to cause for a host of construction projects over the years," Murkowski said. "I appreciate their support. Their experience as commissioners at DOT goes back nearly 20 years and underscores the fact that our concern is a legitimate one and has been out there for a long time. The transfer of these functions to DNR and the strengthening of the interdisciplinary review concept is an appropriate solution to the problem." In their letter dated February 18th, the four former commissioners noted that, while DOT has the "mandate for planning, constructing and maintaining a transportation infrastructure vital to Alaska's economy and the general well-being of its residents," it is a daunting task. "Too often it has been made all the more daunting by conflicting mandates within state government." The letter further noted that a balance has to be achieved to allow projects to go forward, "by employing a flexible and reasonable perspective as to the potential problems and what constitutes acceptable mitigation." "The reorganization will
allow the development of a team at DNR that provides a genuinely
balanced, multi-disciplinary permit review. Permitting of important
projects can then go forward in a timely and economic manner
with minimized impacts to fish and game resources."
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