Homer Alaska - Business

South Peninsula Hospital recognized its corps of volunteers, board members and employees at its recent Annual Awards Event.

Awarded Employee of the Year was Kevin Lloyd, a four-year employee in the housekeeping department. Awarded Manager of the Year was Lisa Mangum, Surgery Department Manager.

Longtime employees Glenn Radeke and Karol Miller were both recognized for their 20 years of service.

Feds award grant for Kachemak Drive study

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation & Enforcement awarded a $101,272 grant to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for a Kachemak Drive Bluff Erosion Study. The award will monitor water recharge rates in 10 well pairs to get information on properly aligning planned road and sewer improvements and to test mitigation efforts to reduce bluff erosion.

Coastal management program likely to end

A state program that gives the state of Alaska leverage with federal agencies in outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing and other federal actions is likely to end June 30. The state's coastal management program also gives coastal communities an important role in decisions by state agencies on projects in coastal areas. By a razor-thin margin, the Legislature failed to pass a bill, House Bill 106, extending the program beyond its scheduled June 30 termination, as it adjourned its special session May 17. Unless legislators convene a quick special session to extend it, the program will end.

That would make Alaska the only coastal state without a coastal management program that links to the federal Coastal Zone Management Program.