(Seattle—Feb. 24, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invites the public to nominate qualified scientists to be considered for an external peer review panel that will evaluate EPA’s draft Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment.

Just 2,424 establishments across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean attained the travel authority’s highest property ratings.

ANCHORAGE, AK, (February 16, 2012) AAA MountainWest announced three restaurants that earned the Four Diamond Award® in Alaska. The AAA/CAA Four Diamond Ratings are the travel authority’s highest designations for hotels and restaurants.

ANCHORAGE, AK - The American College of Radiology (ACR) has designated Imaging Associates of Providence’s Mat-Su Trunk Road location as a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.”

To become a Center of Excellence, Imaging Associates of Providence (IAP) underwent a rigorous review of personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance, and quality control procedures by a team of board-certified physicians and medical physicists.

Black Dog Java Joint is located below Country Cutts, at 432 S. Alaska St. The business specializes in serving gourmet espresso and offers drive-through service. The menu includes biscuits and gravy, bagels with ham and cheese and fresh-baked cookies.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – February 6, 2012

Ketchikan (Feb.7, 2012) -- Shipbuilding, ship repair and maritime jobs in Alaska have an even brighter future as Alaska Ship and Drydock Inc. (ASD) and Vigor Industrial today jointly announced their intent to make ASD a Vigor company.

ASD intends to transition its business and assets to Vigor pending approval of the transfer of ownership by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), the owner of the Ketchikan Shipyard where ASD is based. The private companies hope to finalize their agreement on or before March 1st.

Seattle – EPA is now seeking input on two draft waste water discharge permits for oil and gas exploration activities in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The proposed Clean Water Act permits protect public health and the marine environment by placing limits and conditions on the types and amounts of pollution companies can discharge in waste water during oil and gas exploration activities. The proposed permits also require the companies to conduct environmental studies before, during, and after drilling discharges occur to ensure compliance with permit limits.

Anchorage, AK - Eric Coulter, M.D. is pleased to announce the opening of the Alaska Eye Surgery and Laser Center.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Division of Statewide Aviation, has released the Alaska Airport and Aviation 2011 Annual Report. It can be found at Alaska Airport and Aviation 2011 Annual Report

Anchorage, Alaska - Doyon Emerald, a full-service engineering and consulting firm was recently recognized for its marketing communications efforts by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Alaska Chapter at their annual Aurora Awards Banquet held on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Doyon Emerald, along with Solstice Advertising, received top honors in the category of marketing communications.

Each Alaskan’s share of the monetary assets the state owned in 2011 was $92,821 per person, almost 15 percent more than the value of the preceding fiscal year, according to Commonwealth North.

The Anchorage-based civic group totaled the net worth of the balance sheets of state-owned enterprises such as the Alaska Railroad and its investments such as the Permanent Fund, and reviewed the status of assets one cannot easily put a dollar figure on, such as Alaska’s lands and ocean resources, for the group’s Annual Meeting January 11th.

* Net income from continuing operations of $201 million, or $.21 per common share, for
the fourth quarter of 2011
* Full year net income from continuing operations of $857 million, or $.92 per common
share
* Net interest margin of 3.13%, up four basis points from the third quarter of 2011
* Average total loans increased $656 million from the third quarter of 2011
* Net charge-offs declined to $105 million, or .86% of average loan balances for the
fourth quarter of 2011
* Nonperforming loans declined to $727 million, or 1.47% of period-end loans, and

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Menchie’s opened its newest franchise Jan. 25 at 9000 Lake Otis Parkway in Anchorage. This location is the first Menchie’s in the state of Alaska. Local entrepreneurs and Anchorage natives Casey and Stuart Millar own the franchise.

Menchie’s guests help themselves to a mix of yogurt and toppings at a self-serve store with more than 100 rotating yogurt flavors.

Anchorage, AK – Since 2009 Adventure Green Alaska (AGA), the state’s only eco-tourism
certification program, has quietly continued to promote businesses offering more sustainable
or “green” experiences in Alaska.
Today, AGA recognizes the first round of renewed businesses. The AGA program includes
three levels of certification, including Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. AGA certification is valid
for two years. The four re-certified businesses are:
Alaska Alpine Adventures (www.alaskaalpineadventures.com)
Alaska Wildland Adventures (www.alaskawildland.com)