Alaska officials: Salmon ballot initiative could be costly

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska ballot initiative that aims to strengthen state law protecting salmon habitat could be costly and delay infrastructure projects, state officials said.

The officials noted the possible negative effects during the Senate State Affairs Committee meeting last week in Anchorage.

The initiative would increase the number of streams that officials must assume have salmon, likely resulting in more state checks on the streams, said Ben White, the environmental program manager for the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

“They’re not always there w...