One major bone of contention between the House and Senate was balancing local knowledge with scientific evidence when weighing how development may occur in a coastal area. A House version would have allowed local knowledge that is not contradicted by scientific evidence. A Senate one would have let the state resolve any conflicts between local knowledge and scientific evidence by weighing the relative strengths of each.

The compromise replaces all that with a new concept: aggregate evidence. This is defined to allow consideration of both local knowledge and scientific evidence in specific ways while avoiding the political volatility that these two terms have become.

Negotiators also have crafted language to allow a governor to remove an advisory board member for cause, such as neglect of duty, incompetence, poor attendance, or misconduct, but they have removed a requirement that the chief executive provide written notice about removing a board member and giving that person a chance for a hearing about the removal.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation would continue to deal with issues relating to air and water quality. Under the proposed compromise, the board would review how state statutes and regulations and federal codes are working in this area and report to the governor and legislature by February 1, 2014.

One other thing.

Since May 14, the program has been winding down. Many of its employees have found work elsewhere and its offices have shut down. The compromise forged by legislative leaders is expected to include a transition section to allow time for new workers to learn the ropes and respond to proposed projects in a timely manner. The intent here is not to delay current project permits.