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.
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open-waterseason,wheniceisnotpresent;acontainmentsystemandreliefriglocatedintheArcticsothey canbereadilydeployed;andadequatetrainedpersonnelandtestedequipmenttorespondtoaspillin extreme Arctic conditions. Inaddition,weneedtoidentifyandprotectecologicallysensitiveareasfromoffshoreoilandgasactivities, so that marine mammals and millions of migratorybirdsretainvitalhabitatandlocalcommunities are able to continue to use important subsistence areas. Traditional and Unconventional Support Advancements can take more time and effort than anticipated,especiallywhentheyinvolvesomething newandinsuchchallengingconditions.Byintegrating research from various disciplines and educationalinstitutionswiththeknowledgeoftheAlaskannativesandlocals hocanprovideinsightinto —w environmental trends and relationships that might notbeavailablefromothersources ecandevelop —w ourunderstandingoftheecosystemasawhole. BymaintainingawarenessofArcticsituationsand operations, the Coast Guard can actively participate with its domestic and international partners tosupportandoverseetherapidgrowthinoiland gasactivities,shipping,andtourism.Itcandevelop and maintain policies and strategies to protect and preservethisenvironment,whileprovidingneeded servicessuchasenvironmentalprotection,oilspill response,andsearchandrescue.TheCoastGuard www.uscg.mil/proceedings cancooperatewithotherU.S.andinternationalgovernment and nongovernmental organizations dealingwithArcticissuesandbeanactiveplayerinall mattersrelatedtothisocean.Thisensuresthereisa cadreofexperiencedpersonnelwatchingoverArctic operations. Accountability for the Future Allstakeholdersmusthavethecouragetoactresponsibly,takeinitiative,andprovideleadership.Infact, theU.S.shouldaspiretobetheworld'sleaderinsafety, prevention,andresponseintheArctic.Weshould startbyestablishingclearregulatorystandards,protectingimportantecologicalandsubsistenceareas, ensuringacomprehensiveresearchandmonitoring program, and listening to the native people. About the authors: Mr. Michael Smith is a retired U.S. Navy captain who has worked for the U.S. Coast Guard since 2002. He has served in many capacities including U.S. Coast Guard port security assessments and area maritime security training and exercise program management. Ms. Marilyn Heiman is the director of the Pew Charitable Trusts' U.S. Arctic Program, which works to protect the U.S. Arctic Ocean and its marine life. Previously, she was campaign manager for the International Boreal Conservation Campaign, the Secretary of Interior's Alaska policy advisor, and special assistant on natural resources and oceans for Alaska Governor Tony Knowles. She also worked as an aide to the House Resources Committee in the Alaska legislature during the Exxon Valdez oil spill response. Authors' note: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors anddonotnecessarilyrefecttheoffcialpolicyorpositionof theU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,U.S.CoastGuard, ortheU.S. overnment. g Summer 2013 Proceedings 51