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central Alaska to prepare and test response in the event of a majorearthquakeandresulting tsunami. Although this particularexerciseistargeted to a response in south-central Alaska, the partnerships formed and lessons learned during this exercise will be transferable to Arctic operations. TheCoastGuardisamember of many interagency groups thatincludestateandlocalrepresentativessuchastheAlaska RegionalResponseTeam,the RegionalInteragencySteering Committee led by the FederalEmergencyManagement Agency, and other groups designed to coordinate different disaster and emergency response efforts. The commanderofthe17thCoastGuard District also served as the federal liaison to the Alaska Northern Waters Task Force, establishedbytheAlaskastate legislature in 2010 to recommend ways to confront challenges and opportunities in theArctic.InJanuary2012,the task force released a report recommending development of anArcticmarinestrategyfor federal and state entities.2 The Coast Guard also maintains close ties to the native andlocalcommunities—havingadedicatedtriballiaisonto ensureopenandfullcommunicationregardingindigenous concerns. Beginning in 2007, the Coast Guard started visiting remote communities to discussandaddressAlaskan native concerns and assist in delivering needed assistance, suchasmedicalcaretoremote USCGC Healy Leverages Partnerships in Crucial Oil-Delivery Effort When harsh weather prevented a scheduled fuel delivery in the fall of 2011, Nome faced a fuel shortage crisis. From December 2011 to January 2012, the Coast Guard aided the frstever winter fuel delivery operation to the Arctic city of Nome, Alaska. The collaboration included operators from CGC Healy and the Russian tanker vessel Renda as well as those in direct support of those vessels. The team also consisted of lawyers, logisticians, meteorologists, and marine safety professionals. The Coast Guard worked with the Russian tanker company, many federal agencies, the State of Alaska, and the mayor of Nome, as well as directly with indigenous populations to draw on networks of knowledge and assistance. Some crucial partners like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, and the Department of Defense provided ice and weather reports to Healy's and Renda's crews. Professors from the University of Alaska used specialized equipment to validate measures of ice coverage in the Port of Nome. International Cooperation, Local Efforts Strong partnerships ensured expert multiagency coordination and overcame potential bureaucratic obstacles. The Coast Guard consulted with DOD and the National Guard, and routed a request through the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to secure a waiver of the Jones Act 1 to allow the Russian-fagged Renda to legally proceed directly from one U.S. port to another. The Alaska National Guard loaned snow machines that enabled the Coast Guard to enforce a safety zone on the iced-over Nome harbor, so that Renda could safely pull in as close as possible to Nome. The Coast Guard worked with state officials to ensure the viability and safety of the fuel transfer and contingency plans — working together to allow sufcient time for public comment and input. Multiple local crews assisted in monitoring the fuel transfer hoses for nearly a mile over the ice from ship to shore to ensure not a drop of fuel was spilled in the pristine marine environment. Residents advised on local conditions, and all worked together to ensure operators properly limited outside time to avoid overexposure to the freezing temperatures, which dipped as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Success as the World Looks On The Nome fuel-delivery operation spanned more than 45 days, and the cross-functional team coordinated all aspects of the operation, including media requests. In fact, Coast Guard's Arctic media coverage spiked from an average of 23 stories a week to 917, when coverage of the Nome fuel transfer operation was factored in. This level of public attention dedicated to this one-time-only winter operation clearly demonstrates the increased attention the Coast Guard should expect for Arctic operations. Endnote: 1. 46 U.S.C. § 55102. continued on page 61 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Summer 2013 Proceedings 59