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Alaska Measure 4, Water Standards at New Metallic Mineral Mines Initiative (August 2008)
| Alaska Measure 4 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Business regulations and Mineral resources |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Alaska Measure 4 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Alaska on August 26, 2008. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported requiring new metallic mineral mining operations exceeding 640 acres to meet water quality standards that prohibit the discharge or storage of toxic pollutants that "adversely affect human health or the life cycle of salmon." |
A "no" vote opposed requiring new metallic mineral mining operations exceeding 640 acres to meet water quality standards that prohibit the discharge or storage of toxic pollutants that "adversely affect human health or the life cycle of salmon." |
Election results
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Alaska Measure 4 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 83,574 | 43.59% | ||
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108,138 | 56.41% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Measure 4 was as follows:
| “ | This bill imposes two water quality standards on new large scale metallic mineral mining operations in Alaska. The first standard does not allow such a mining operation to release into water a toxic pollutant that will adversely affect human health or the life cycle of salmon. The second standard does not allow such a mining operation to store mining wastes and tailings that could release sulfuric acid, other acids, dissolved metals or other toxic pollutants that could adversely affect water that is used by humans or by salmon. The bill defines a large scale metallic mineral mining operation to mean a metallic mineral mining operation that is in excess of 640 acres in size. The bill defines toxic pollutants to include substances that will cause death and disease in humans and fish, and includes a list of substances identified as toxic pollutants under federal law.
Should this initiative become law? | ” |
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, a second round of signatures is required to put the initiative on the ballot for voters to decide.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Alaska Juneau (capital) |
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