The Bush caucus is flexing its muscle in Juneau, making serious end-of-session pushes for a couple of bills that matter -- a lot -- for Alaska's far north and west communities.

And with a stockpile of political capital in the Legislature, the Bush lawmakers may be thinking it's time to cash in, a thought that could send waves rippling through the House majority as lawmakers begin to reorganize for next year's session.

At issue is coastal zone management. Federal rules allow for the formation of coastal districts to establish local development policies. While most of Alaska's coastal districts have hammered out plans that meet with state Department of Natural Resources approval, the Northwest Arctic and North Slope districts are at an impasse, and are seeking legislative changes to elevate their voices in industrial and other development.

"It's meaningful local input," said Rep. Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue. He's sponsoring a bill in the House (HB74) that would give greater authority to districts, including the power to enforce policies crafted at the local level. Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, is championing the same bill in the Senate (SB4).

The bills are controversial. DNR is opposed to the changes, saying the greater authority could allow districts to essentially override state and federal decisions. Also opposed is the oil and gas industry, on the grounds that an additional layer of regulation could shut down or seriously delay major projects, including drilling on the outer continental shelf.

The issue is causing some rumbling within the House majority, which had a lengthy caucus meeting last week dealing with a push by rural lawmakers for attention to the coastal management zone bills, which run up against a foundational Republican support for industry and resource development. Discontent is clear, but as with most caucus matters, nobody's talking.

Changing Arctic, changing lifestyles

Changes to sea ice are heralding the prospect of major changes to the lifestyles people in Arctic communities have nurtured for generations. For them, everything is at stake.

The coastal zone program in place now is intended to give local coastal communities a say in state matters affecting their areas. Significant changes made in 2003 affected what Joule said was previously a working, albeit imperfect, program. Now, Joule and Olson say in their case the voice is more of a token gesture, not backed with any authority, and they need more.

The matter sprung to new life recently, with a federal policy shift that has opened the door to Shell and other oil companies to launch major oil and gas exploration programs as early as this year.

Concerns start with thawing sea ice and the potential of new shipping lanes through the Arctic. Already some oil and gas activity and signs of climate change are thought to be affecting the migratory patterns of sea mammals, especially bowhead whales, which are central to the Alaska Native lifestyle. Add worries that seismic studies by oil and gas companies could further alter animal movement, and the potential for waves of tourists and adventurers traveling through new sea lanes, and trouble seems likely to those who live along Alaska's northern and western coasts.

"These communities are based on whaling," Olson said. "That is a very concerning thing ... It does make it so it's becoming more and more critical that we have a voice at the table."

Olson said on Friday that the House bill is his absolute top priority this session, and that he's encouraged by the support of heavy hitters like North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta, who testified in support of the bills at a recent House hearing -- an event significant enough to draw House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski.

"I do believe that efforts to strike a balance that recognize and mitigate the concerns of the North Slope people who have lived along the coast for thousands of years is a small consideration in light of the billions of dollars that keep being talked about here, and our desires to have development done in a meaningful and responsible way," Itta said.