NRCS Alaska News

November 14, 2005

In this Issue:

Successful Completion of Metlakatla EWP Project

Dennis Moore Cited as Student’s Inspiration

Biomass Project Funding Opportunity Announced

Photo Contest Underway

New Earth Team Logos Approved

Use or Lose Leave Approval Deadline Approaching

FSAFEDS and FEHB Open Seasons Begin Today

Successful Completion of Metlakatla EWP Project

An Emergency Watershed Project that was initiated in 2003 for the Melakatla Indian Community (MIC) has come to a successful completion.

Metlakatla is on Annette Island 15 miles southwest of Ketchikan and is accessible only by air or boat. The project focused on a hillside which was sloughing and jeopardizing multiple homes and communication and utility services.  The hillside was also encroaching on the road to the cannery. 

After an initial visit, multiple options were reviewed.  The final design stabilized over 700 feet of the hillside with a gabion retaining wall.  The newly stabilized slope above the wall was seeded and fertilized to provide erosion control.

A locally-awarded contract was used because of MIC’s contracting capabilities which allowed for more of the funds and more of the work to stay within the community. It was a nicely constructed project and a successful example of a locally awarded contract.  It should serve the community well.

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Dennis Moore Cited as Student’s Inspiration

While many NRCS staff engage in educational activities, fair presentations and various demonstrations throughout the year, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of these activities in increasing awareness or concern for natural resources.  The children progress through their school years and the conference attendees return to their communities; rarely do the educators/presenters learn of the spark they might have ignited inside the mind of an individual.

In the Summer 2005 edition of Agroborealis, the quarterly publication of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources, biology student Ben Meyer writes an article about how he discovered his environmental ethic.  In it, Ben writes of a bleary-eyed April morning when a guest speaker entered his Wasilla High School classroom with a fist full of Subway sandwich tokens, some “attempts at humor,” and a challenge for the students: give some thought to how soil impacts every facet of your life.

Ben writes that following Dennis’ presentation, he finds himself keenly aware of the omnipresence of soil in a way that has a profound impact on his view of the world.  Ben has gone on to pursue a degree in biology, has been an exchange student in Argentina, a veterinatrian’s aide in the Aleutian Islands and a lichen collector with the Institute of Arctic Biology.

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Biomass Project Funding Opportunity Announced

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly solicit applications for financial assistance addressing research, development, and demonstration of biomass based products, bioenergy, biofuels and related processes. This funding opportunity is intended to promote greater innovation and development related to biomass, and to support the Biomass Research Development Act of 2000, the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 and Federal policy calling for greater use of biomass-based products, feedstock production, and processing and conversion.

Letters of intent must be received by 11/22/2005. More information is available at http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/ including a list of recipients of the Biomass R&D Initiative's FY 2005 joint solicitation.

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Photo Contest Underway

The first NRCS Conservation Photo Contest is underway and the entries are starting to roll in.  The rules are that any NRCS employee or Earth Team volunteer is eligible to enter photos taken in Alaska during the past fiscal year that are at least 150 dpi.  The grand prize is a pair of Steiner full-size safari 9x40 binoculars.  The top six photos will be framed for display in the State Conservationist’s office, and all photos are subject for publication in NRCS newsletters, web sites, brochures, reports or technical publications.

The deadline for entering is November 30. There is no limit as to how many photos can be entered.

For more information, contact Cassandra Stalzer at 761-7749 or at Cassandra.stalzer@ak.usda.gov.

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New Earth Team Logos Approved

You may remember that the round Earth Team logo previously used by the agency has been discontinued.  The graphic design team at HQ has created three acceptable replacements for use when NRCS’ volunteer program requires a visual representation.  One version is shown at right. Please email public affairs if you would like electronic files of the logos.

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Use or Lose Leave Approval Deadline Approaching

All "use or lose" annual leave must be scheduled and approved in writing no later than November 26, 2005, so that forfeited annual leave can be considered for restoration. Restoration of annual leave cannot be requested until forfeiture after the end of the leave year, January 7, 2006, but no later than April 1, 2006.

Annual leave may only be restored for one of the following reasons: (1) administrative error; (2) illness or injury; or (3) exigency of public business.

Questions regarding use or lose leave should be directed to Cassie Storms, State Administrative Officer, at 761-7776.

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FSAFEDS and FEHB Open Seasons Begin Today

FSAFEDS Open Season Program will run from November 14, 2005 through December 12, 2005. During that time period you may enroll online via https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp or contact a Benefits Counselor at 1-877-FSAFEDS (372-3337), TTY: 1-800-952-0450.

FEHB Open Season will be held from November 14 - December 12, 2005. Visit the FEHB Home Page https://www.opm.gov/insure/06/ for more information.  

Contact the state office for questions or for copies of Blue Cross and GEHA provider information books.