House passes bill with Arctic port funds

A bill that cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on July 10 contains a chunk of money to advance a possible Arctic seaport.

The bill (H.R. 4923) makes appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for fiscal year 2015.

A House Appropriations Committee report explaining the bill indicates $50,000 for Army Corps of Engineers feasibility investigation of “Alaska regional ports.” This means Arctic ports, said a July 11 press release from Alaska Congressman Don Young’s office.

The Army Corps and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities have been jointly studying the concept of a deep-draft port to support increased activity in the Arctic Ocean, where sea ice has been receding with climate change. The agencies could make a recommendation by year’s end on development of an Arctic port, perhaps at Nome or nearby Port Clarence.

H.R. 4923 now moves to the Senate.

- Wesley Loy