Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Slopeonlysupportstheexistingremotelocalpopulations.Therefore,theCoastGuardfewallCGsupplies(includingfuel,spareparts,andlogistics)from CGAirStationKodiak,morethan800milesaway, orshippedthembyboatfromregionsasfaras1,200 nauticalmilesaway. Topreventoverwhelmingthelocalinfrastructureor competingforlocalresources,militaryoperations intheArcticneedtobeself-suffcient.FutureCoast Guardoperationswillneedtoprovideallofthebasics forlivingandworkinginthisremoteregionincluding food,shelter,water,andmedicalattention,alongwith anymechanicalsupportforvehicles,boats,electronics, and aircraft. Environmental Compliance CoastGuardleadersmustformallyassessactivities intheArctictoensurecontinuedcompliancewith theNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct,Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and theNationalHistoricPreservationAct.In2012,CG personnelexecutedanenvironmentalassessmentfor Arctic Shield operationsandreceivedafndingofno signifcantimpactfortheseoperations. Duetotheincreasedactivityanticipatedforfuture years,wemustseekformalassessmentstocontinue tooperateintheArctic.Thecostandtimeofsuchan undertakingislargeandwillneedCoastGuardheadquartersstaffinvolvementaswellasDepartmentof HomelandSecurityparticipation. Two helicopters with supporting air, ground, and communications crews were moved 900 miles north from Kodiak to Barrow, Alaska, to support Arctic Shield 2012. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Offcer Elizabeth H. Bordelon. Physical Security Physicalsecurityisnotonlynecessaryforprotection frompotentiallawfulprotestorsorpossibleterrorist threats,butalsotoprotectagainstdangerouswildlife in the region. For example, Alaska's North Slope is prime polar bearhabitat.Polarbearsarenotonlydangerous,but arealsoconsideredathreatenedspeciesunderthe EndangeredSpeciesActof1973.1Fortunately,polar bearsdidnotaffectoperations oinjuriesorclose —n calls were reported—a nd few were seen near the communicationsdetachment'strailer. Coast Guard communication crews load a mobile communication center onto a Coast Guard C-130 at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Offcer Charlie Vice. 34 Proceedings Summer 2013 Tribal Relationships Alaska has 229 federally recognized native Alaskantribes,andtheirvalues,behaviors,beliefs,attitudes,andtraditionsmayhavebeenunfamiliarto some. However, deployed Coast Guard personnel respected and preserved these native values and culturesthroughdailyArctic Shield 2012 interaction. Respectfulinteractionandgoodrelationshipswith nativevillagerswasnotonlyexpectedbyeveryone, butalsoencouragedthroughtraining.Thispractice willcontinueindefnitely. www.uscg.mil/proceedings