Due to multiple holidays occurring within the original comment period, and in response to several requests, the Department of Fish and Game has extended the public comment period for the proposed repeal of the Personal Watercraft Prohibition (5 AAC 95.310) in Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area.

The deadline for comments has been extended to no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 21. The Department of Fish and Game has proposed to change regulations on personal watercraft use in the Fox River Flats and Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Areas.

Rick Green, Assistant to the Commissioner of the DF&G: “The proposal is to repeal the stand-alone regulation put into place in 2001, which banned one and only one watercraft only in the Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area, and that one watercraft that is not allowed in state navigable waters according to this regulation is personal watercraft.”

The Supplemental Notice can be viewed at the Alaska Online Public Notices webpage at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=196455 The original Notice of Proposal can be viewed at: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=196330

Green: “If this is passed by the Commissioner and he decides to take action and sign this proposal after the public comment period is over then personal watercraft would be allowed with jet boats, cruise ships, fishing boats, and all other watercraft’s that already use the waterway.”

After the public comment period ends, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Comments may be submitted on the Alaska Online Public Notice webpage or by other means identified in the notices.