JUNEAU (AP) — Avalanches and washouts are closing stretches of highway in Canada that could affect Alaska motorists.

The Alaska transportation department reports the Klondike Highway from Skagway to the U.S.-Canada border is closed due to avalanches. Washouts on the Alaska Highway in Canada have resulted in closures between Junction 37 and Teslin, on the southern end of the Yukon Territory, and between Haines Junction and Destruction Bay.

ANCHORAGE (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department announced Saturday it would be seeking input on a possible oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet

In a news release, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the request for comments is a key step in the planning process for responsible oil and gas development along Alaska’s shoreline.

“Today’s announcement is part of our commitment to increasing safe and responsible domestic oil and gas production as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy for America,” he said.

ANCHORAGE (AP) — A citizen's initiative to establish a coastal management program has been certified for the ballot, but it might not be needed.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell on Friday certified the initiative after reviewing signatures and determining it met the requirements for the ballot.

However, a House bill has been introduced this session to also re-establish the program.

If it's determined to be substantially close to the initiative and passed by lawmakers, the initiative won't have to go the ballot.

KODIAK (AP) — Parts of Alaska will see substantial cuts in the allowable halibut catch.

KMXT reports (http://bit.ly/15KdoW) the International Pacific Halibut Commission released its catch limits Friday. Overall, it's down 18 percent from last year, or about 7.5 million pounds.

The catch limit for the Gulf of Alaska is reduced by 2.4 million pounds, or 17 percent from 2011.

The pound limit reduction is the same for the Alaska Peninsula southwest of Kodiak Island, but that equates to a 32 percent drop, to a little above 5 million pounds.