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
Environmental Stewardship Arctic Dreams Protecting and preserving the Arctic. byMR. MICHAELP.SMITH Preparedness Security Specialist U.S. Coast Guard MS. MARILYNHEIMAN Director The Pew Charitable Trusts' U.S. Arctic Program As we consider the environmental changes happening in Alaska and the Arctic,weneedtolookatthebigpicture. Today,itissoeasytobecomeabsorbed inspecifcdetails,and,indoingso,we mayforgettoenvisionwhatisimportantfor thosewholiveintheseareas.Forinstance,we wantourgrandkidsandtheirgrandkidstoknow theaweandgrandeurofanAlaskawherethepolar bearandwalrussurviveandAlaskannativecultureremainsvibrant. Yes,theclimatechangesareaffectingthelocal wildlifeandthehumancommunitiesthatfor centurieshavedependedonAlaska'snaturalbounty.Additionally,theretreatofyearroundseaiceismakingtheArcticOcean moreaccessibletoshippingandindustrial development, like oil and gas exploration. This means there is an increased threat of environmental damage, and the marine mammalsalreadystrugglingtoadapttochangingconditionswillsoonfacenewthreats,suchasairand waterpollution,noise,andshipstrikes.Anoilspill couldalsodamagefragilefoodwebsandcritical habitat. TheUnitedStatesfaceskeydecisionsabout whether,when,where,andhowdevelopment shouldtakeplacetopreventharmtooneof theworld'slastrelativelyuntouchedecosystems.Wemustbewillingtodowhatittakes tokeeptheoceancleanandthelandunharmed; 50 Proceedings Summer 2013 itisamatterofbeingresponsibleindividually,corporately,andgovernmentallytoremaingoodstewards oftheArcticregionanditsresources. The Coast Guard's Role IncreasedhumanactivityintheArcticwillaffectthe U.S.CoastGuard'smissionaswell.Ataminimum, therewillbeanincreaseindemandformoreservices. Planningisabigpartofpreparedness,andpredicting futureoperationsinthefarNorthforthenext30years willhelpdeterminespecifcactionsthatneedtobe takennow. TheArcticisunforgiving;itisaremote,extreme,and challengingplacetodobusiness,andisoneofthe mostdiffcultplacesonEarthtomountarescueoperationorspillresponse.Amajorityoftheregionhas nomajorroads,ports,orairports.ThenearestCoast Guardbaseismorethan1,000milesaway.Hurricaneforcewinds,subzerotemperatures,highseas,shifting sea ice, and long periods of fog and darkness are normalandcouldshutdownaresponsealtogether. U.S. Government Response OneofthefrststepstheU.S.governmentshouldundertakeistoworkwithAlaskanstateoffcials,industry, nativecommunities,organizations, cientists,cons servationgroups,andother takeholderstodevelop s Arctic-specific safetyandoilspillpreventionand response standards. These regulatory standards shouldincludepurpose-built,Arctic-classdrilling rigs and associated vessels; seasonal restrictions toensurethatdrillingtakesplaceonlyduringthe www.uscg.mil/proceedings