Join our crew and become one of the 109,192 members that receive our newsletter.

Arctic ice flow

Report Calls For New US Arctic Ocean Strategy

Reuters
Total Views: 9
April 6, 2013

USCG photograph of Arctic ice flow.

Reuters – With the warming U.S. Arctic region poised for greater oil and mining development, the White House needs to develop a national strategy that can take environmental decisions on a larger scale, a report issued Thursday concluded.

The study recommends greater coordination between federal, state and local agencies to better manage resources in Alaska, said the U.S. Department of Interior’s Alaska Interagency Working Group in its report that was presented to President Barack Obama.

“It is imperative that we reduce redundancies and streamline federal efforts as we safely and responsibly explore and develop Alaska’s vast resources while preserving the region’s rich ecosystems,” David Hayes, the deputy interior secretary and working group chairman said in a statement.

The study’s release follows a trouble-plagued offshore Arctic drilling season conducted by Royal Dutch Shell, and comes as several other energy, mining and shipping companies are poised to dobusiness in the region.

The report urged regulators to work jointly on environmental reviews of projects instead of considering each proposal in isolation, and to identify special ecological and cultural areas that might need protection from an expected rush of companies seeking to extract oil, minerals and other Arctic resources.

Such an intensive approach to environmental management is needed because of profound changes as the Arctic warms and atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulates in the Arctic Ocean, making the frigid waters more acidic and imperiling shellfish and other marine life.

Both environmentalists and oil-industry representatives welcomed the report.

“As far as I know, no one’s ever tried to pull all of this together in one place before,” said Michael LeVine, Pacific senior counsel for the environmental group Oceana.

However, it is unclear whether management changes will follow, LeVine said. “There’s a lot of recommendations in here, none of which have any requirement that they be implemented,” he said.

Kara Moriarty, executive director of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, said the report could help pave the way for responsible future development.

“It’s no secret – there is a microscope on the Arctic,” she said. “There is a very heightened awareness about how development in the Arctic is going to proceed.”

Energy and mining companies and marine shippers submitted their own recommendations for future management of Alaska’s Arctic region, much of which focused in easing impediments to development.

This article was written by By Yereth Rosen, (c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions

Tags:

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up
Back to Main
polygon icon polygon icon

Why Join the gCaptain Club?

Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.

Sign Up
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,192 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.

Join Our Crew

Join the 109,192 members that receive our newsletter.