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Northern waters preliminary report out Task force recommends improvements to state, federal Arctic policy on transportation, national security, resource development Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
In a preliminary report released Jan. 20 the Alaska Northern Waters Task Force said economic benefits to Alaska could be substantial from diminishing sea ice and the intensifying international race for natural resources.
But, the task force said, the state also needs to provide for sustainable communities and environmental protection.
The Alaska Legislature established the task force in 2010; its full report is due to the Legislature Jan. 30.
Rep. Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue, is the chair of the task force and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, is vice chair. Members include Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, Rep. Bob Herron, D-Bethel, Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig, NANA Corp. Vice President Chuck Greene, Unalaska City Manager Chris Hladick, former North Slope Borough Major Edward Itta, Alaska Marine Conservation Council Chair Dave Kubiak and Nome Mayor Denise Michels. The U.S. Coast Guard served as the federal liaison and was represented by Rear Admiral Christopher Colvin until May and by Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo after Colvin’s departure.
“As worldwide demand for natural resources brings increased attention to the Arctic, Alaska needs to capitalize on the potential economic benefits while providing for sustainable communities and the environment,” Joule said in a statement.
“Changes in the Arctic will provide for new shipping routes and access to some of the richest oil and gas deposits in the Arctic. Alaska needs a better roadmap to achieve success in the Arctic and the task force’s work is a good step forward,” Stedman said.
The task force identified three top priorities: providing opportunities for Alaskans to participate in Arctic policy and development decisions, creation of an Alaska Arctic Commission and urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the United National Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Comprehensive US Arctic strategy Under governance, the task force supported development and implementation of a comprehensive U.S. Arctic strategy; recommended the state and the U.S. “participate in the adoption of international agreements for shipping, fisheries, oil and gas development, and other transboundary issues”; and recommended the state and the Legislature “support greater international cooperation through the Arctic Council.”
In the area of oil and gas development, the task force recommended that the state and the federal government “develop a framework for the identification, acquisition, and sharing of data and other information to support leasing, permitting, and other agency decisions”; that the state and federal government “support continued improvement in the ability of industry and the government to prevent, contain, control, clean up, and remediate spills in the Arctic”; and that “the University of Alaska establish an oil spill research center.”
Under marine transportation the task force noted that because of the warming Arctic, both the Northern Sea Route, north of Russia, and the Northwest Passage, north of Canada and Alaska, are feasible routes from Atlantic to Asian waters, and recommended that the U.S., with state participation, “work with the international community to finalize the Polar Code for ships operating in Arctic waters and examine whether to establish an offshore vessel routing scheme for circumpolar marine traffic, including through the Aleutians”; “supports increasing short- and long-range navigational aids in the North American Arctic, and extending Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel tracking across the North Slope waters to Tuktoyaktuk, in the Northwest Territories”; and “endorses completing the Aleutian Island Risk Assessment” and continued state support for the U.S. Coast Guard Port Access Route Study.
Fishing, infrastructure, research Citing increased interest in fisheries north of the Bering Strait as sea ice diminishes, the task force recommended “greatly increasing” fisheries research and monitoring in the region; the continuation of fisheries boundaries negotiating with other nations; and state-federal preparation of strategies to maximize benefit to local communities of commercial fisheries north of the Bering Strait.
“Immediate investment in Arctic infrastructure is a foremost priority for Alaska and the entire United States,” the task force said, recommending that the Legislature and the state “continue to urge the federal government to forward base the United States Coast Guard in the Arctic and to fund the construction of additional icebreakers and ice-capable vessels for the U.S. fleet.”
Deep-draft ports and additional safe harbors in northern waters are also recommended, along with increased funding for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrographic Arctic mapping.
With climate change already impacting the Arctic, the task force recommended that state and federal governments identify priorities for Arctic research; improve exchange of research information and integrate data management; and increase long-term monitoring of the Arctic, including the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and associated coastal plains.
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