February 14, 2014

Dear Neighbors,

Alaska’s Last Territorial Governor

Alaska lost a hero from the battle for statehood today. Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich of Fairbanks passed away last night surrounded by family. He served in the House, the Senate and was appointed by President Eisenhower to the post of Governor in 1957. He was a family man and an accomplished attorney. But the greatest legacy that can be shared, and today mourned, by every Alaskan was his steadfast advocacy in the efforts of Alaska to gain statehood. RIP Governor.

Valentine’s Day Wishes

Today, February 14th, is a day to celebrate friends, family and loved ones. There are many times where the legislature gets caught up in the big picture, concerned only with the bottom line and forgets the human element. We work for our constituents; their needs should be our priorities. Today, think of the bonds that bring us together rather than the disagreements that tear us apart.

Flint Hills…What we know so far…

The Interior Delegation is learning more daily about Flint Hills, the economy and the cleanup. I am briefing my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that they understand all of the impacts. Simply put a closure will not be in the best interest of Fairbanks.

•   Of their 126 employees, Flint Hills will eliminate 81 jobs with 35 remaining in Fairbanks and 10 remaining in Anchorage.

•   Gasoline production will end by May 1 and Crude Oil Processing Unit No.2 will shut down before June 1.

•   The cleanup costs from the toxic sulfolane leak have topped $55 million and have been cited as one of the primary reasons the refinery is shutting its doors.

•   According to law, the financial burden should be shared by all parties involved in the spill – Flint Hills, Williams Alaska Petroleum Inc. (who owned the plant prior to Flint Hills), and the State of Alaska.

•   Flint Hills has 720,000 barrels of tank storage capacity and will continue to operate as a distribution center, but not a refinery.

Coming Home!

As your Representative I am always eager to hear from you about your concerns and priorities so that I may better represent your interests during the legislative session. Whether it be by phone call, email, or a visit to the office, I am always pleased to discuss the issues with you. On Sunday, February 23, I will be home in Fairbanks to talk about the current legislative session. Please bring your questions, comments and concerns to the Noel Wien Library auditorium from 2:00 pm to 4:00pm. I look forward to seeing you there.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,

Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Representative
District 4 - Fairbanks