Download or read book Maritime Infrastructure Key Issues Related to Commercial Activity in the U s Arctic Over the Next Decade written by Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-07-28 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: " Decreasing seasonal sea ice has opened up Arctic waters for longer periods with resulting potential economic opportunities in commercial shipping, cruises, commercial fishing, oil, and mining. In light of the importance of U.S. efforts to effectively manage Arctic issues, GAO was asked to examine U.S. actions related to developing and investing in Arctic maritime infrastructure. This report discusses (1) current commercial maritime activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipated activity in the next 10 years, (2) actions taken by government entities in support of planning and developing U.S. Arctic maritime infrastructure, and (3) federal interagency efforts to identify and prioritize Arctic maritime-infrastructure investments. GAO interviewed representatives from the commercial-shipping, cruise, commercial-fishing, oil, and mining industries and government entities involved in the U.S. Arctic. Site visits were conducted to Nome, Barrow, and Anchorage, Alaska. These sites were selected based on factors such as geographic location and infrastructure activity. "

Download or read book Maritime Infrastructure written by Lorelei St. James and published by . This book was released on 2014-05-22 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Decreasing seasonal ice has opened up Arctic waters for longer periods with resulting potential economic opportunities in commercial shipping, cruises, commercial fishing, oil, and mining. In light of the importance of U.S. efforts to effectively manage Arctic issues, this report examined U.S. actions related to developing and investing in Arctic maritime infrastructure. It discusses (1) current commercial maritime activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipated activity in the next 10 years; (2) actions taken by government entities in support of planning and developing U.S. Arctic maritime infrastructure; and (3) federal interagency efforts to identify and prioritize Arctic maritime-infrastructure investments. Tables and figures. This is a print on demand report.

Download or read book Maritime Infrastructure written by United States Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-21 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE: Key Issues Related to Commercial Activity in the U.S. Arctic over the Next Decade

Download or read book Maritime Infrastructure Key Issues Related to Commercial Activity in the U S Arctic Over the Next Decade written by United States Government Accountability and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-01-01 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alaska's location makes the United States an Arctic nation. Alaska has extensive maritime access, with over 6,000 miles of coastline, bordered by the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas; the Arctic Ocean; the Gulf of Alaska; and the Bering Strait, whose jurisdiction is divided between the United States and Russia. See figure 1. The Bering Strait provides the only access to the Arctic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean, which lies south of the Aleutian Islands. Federal waters typically extend from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore, and state waters for coastal states such as Alaska generally extend from the state coastline up to 3 nautical miles offshore. Within the complex array of federal and state maritime boundaries, all navigable waters of the United States are subject to some type of federal jurisdiction.

Download or read book Arctic Imperatives written by Thad W. Allen and published by Council on Foreign Relations Press. This book was released on 2017-03-01 with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Arctic Maritime Infrastructure written by Stacy E. Mable and published by Nova Science Pub Incorporated. This book was released on 2014-01-01 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is an Arctic nation. Due to climate change, the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth. As the loss of sea ice creates a more accessible Arctic, the nation must consider risks and opportunities for commerce and economic growth; security of our maritime domain; indigenous peoples and their subsistence cultures; and marine resource management, particularly along the Alaskan coast. To enhance Arctic marine transportation safety, protect Arctic people and the environment, build Arctic marine infrastructure, and to ensure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic, Congress directed that the interagency Committee on Marine Transportation System (CMTS) coordinate the establishment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic. This book answers that Congressional directive while addressing the considerations outlined above. This book also discusses current commercial maritime activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipated activity in the next 10 years; actions taken by government entities in support of planning and developing U.S. Arctic maritime infrastructure; and federal interagency efforts to identify and prioritize Arctic maritime-infrastructure investments.

Download or read book Arctic Maritime Infrastructure written by Stacy E. Mable and published by Gazelle Book Services, Limited. This book was released on 2014-07-16 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is an Arctic nation. Due to climate change, the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth. As the loss of sea ice creates a more accessible Arctic, the nation must consider risks and opportunities for commerce and economic growth; security of our maritime domain; indigenous peoples and their subsistence cultures; and marine resource management, particularly along the Alaskan coast. To enhance Arctic marine transportation safety, protect Arctic people and the environment, build Arctic marine infrastructure, and to ensure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic, Congress directed that the interagency Committee on Marine Transportation System (CMTS) coordinate the establishment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic. This book answers that Congressional directive while addressing the considerations outlined above. This book also discusses current commercial maritime activity in the U.S. Arctic and anticipated activity in the next 10 years; actions taken by government entities in support of planning and developing U.S. Arctic maritime infrastructure; and federal interagency efforts to identify and prioritize Arctic maritime-infrastructure investments.

Download or read book Coast Guard Arctic Implementation Capabilities written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Responding to Oil Spills in the U S Arctic Marine Environment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-08-01 with total page 343 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. Arctic waters north of the Bering Strait and west of the Canadian border encompass a vast area that is usually ice covered for much of the year, but is increasingly experiencing longer periods and larger areas of open water due to climate change. Sparsely inhabited with a wide variety of ecosystems found nowhere else, this region is vulnerable to damage from human activities. As oil and gas, shipping, and tourism activities increase, the possibilities of an oil spill also increase. How can we best prepare to respond to such an event in this challenging environment? Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment reviews the current state of the science regarding oil spill response and environmental assessment in the Arctic region north of the Bering Strait, with emphasis on the potential impacts in U.S. waters. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the Arctic and makes recommendations to provide an effective response effort in these challenging conditions. According to Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, a full range of proven oil spill response technologies is needed in order to minimize the impacts on people and sensitive ecosystems. This report identifies key oil spill research priorities, critical data and monitoring needs, mitigation strategies, and important operational and logistical issues. The Arctic acts as an integrating, regulating, and mediating component of the physical, atmospheric and cryospheric systems that govern life on Earth. Not only does the Arctic serve as regulator of many of the Earth's large-scale systems and processes, but it is also an area where choices made have substantial impact on life and choices everywhere on planet Earth. This report's recommendations will assist environmentalists, industry, state and local policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of this special region to preserve and protect it from damaging oil spills.

Download or read book The Arctic in the Anthropocene written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-07-31 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Once ice-bound, difficult to access, and largely ignored by the rest of the world, the Arctic is now front and center in the midst of many important questions facing the world today. Our daily weather, what we eat, and coastal flooding are all interconnected with the future of the Arctic. The year 2012 was an astounding year for Arctic change. The summer sea ice volume smashed previous records, losing approximately 75 percent of its value since 1980 and half of its areal coverage. Multiple records were also broken when 97 percent of Greenland's surface experienced melt conditions in 2012, the largest melt extent in the satellite era. Receding ice caps in Arctic Canada are now exposing land surfaces that have been continuously ice covered for more than 40,000 years. What happens in the Arctic has far-reaching implications around the world. Loss of snow and ice exacerbates climate change and is the largest contributor to expected global sea level rise during the next century. Ten percent of the world's fish catches comes from Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that up to 13 percent of the world's remaining oil reserves are in the Arctic. The geologic history of the Arctic may hold vital clues about massive volcanic eruptions and the consequent release of massive amount of coal fly ash that is thought to have caused mass extinctions in the distant past. How will these changes affect the rest of Earth? What research should we invest in to best understand this previously hidden land, manage impacts of change on Arctic communities, and cooperate with researchers from other nations? The Arctic in the Anthropocene reviews research questions previously identified by Arctic researchers, and then highlights the new questions that have emerged in the wake of and expectation of further rapid Arctic change, as well as new capabilities to address them. This report is meant to guide future directions in U.S. Arctic research so that research is targeted on critical scientific and societal questions and conducted as effectively as possible. The Arctic in the Anthropocene identifies both a disciplinary and a cross-cutting research strategy for the next 10 to 20 years, and evaluates infrastructure needs and collaboration opportunities. The climate, biology, and society in the Arctic are changing in rapid, complex, and interactive ways. Understanding the Arctic system has never been more critical; thus, Arctic research has never been more important. This report will be a resource for institutions, funders, policy makers, and students. Written in an engaging style, The Arctic in the Anthropocene paints a picture of one of the last unknown places on this planet, and communicates the excitement and importance of the discoveries and challenges that lie ahead.

Download or read book Critical Infrastructure for Ocean Research and Societal Needs in 2030 written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-06-24 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States has jurisdiction over 3.4 million square miles of ocean in its exclusive economic zone, a size exceeding the combined land area of the 50 states. This expansive marine area represents a prime national domain for activities such as maritime transportation, national security, energy and mineral extraction, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism and recreation. However, it also carries with it the threat of damaging and outbreaks of waterborne pathogens. The 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami are vivid reminders that ocean activities and processes have direct human implications both nationally and worldwide, understanding of the ocean system is still incomplete, and ocean research infrastructure is needed to support both fundamental research and societal priorities. Given current struggles to maintain, operate, and upgrade major infrastructure elements while maintaining a robust research portfolio, a strategic plan is needed for future investments to ensure that new facilities provide the greatest value, least redundancy, and highest efficiency in terms of operation and flexibility to incorporate new technological advances. Critical Infrastructure for Ocean Research and Societal Needs in 2030 identifies major research questions anticipated to be at the forefront of ocean science in 2030 based on national and international assessments, input from the worldwide scientific community, and ongoing research planning activities. This report defines categories of infrastructure that should be included in planning for the nation's ocean research infrastructure of 2030 and that will be required to answer the major research questions of the future. Critical Infrastructure for Ocean Research and Societal Needs in 2030 provides advice on the criteria and processes that could be used to set priorities for the development of new ocean infrastructure or replacement of existing facilities. In addition, this report recommends ways in which the federal agencies can maximize the value of investments in ocean infrastructure.

Download or read book Polar Icebreaker Roles and U S Future Needs written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-01-08 with total page 53 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The age and condition of the U.S. Coast Guard's polar icebreakers are jeopardizing national security and scientific research in the Arctic and Antarctic, according to an interim report from the National Academies. Because of a shortfall in funding for U.S. polar icebreaking activities, long-term maintenance on these icebreakers has been deferred over the past several years, making the ships inefficient to operate and their technological systems outdated. Congress asked the National Academies to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current and future roles of U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreakers in supporting U.S. operations in the Antarctic and the Arctic, including scenarios for continuing those operations and alternative approaches, the changes in roles and missions of polar icebreakers in the support of all national priorities in the polar regions, and potential changes in the roles of U.S Coast Guard icebreakers in the Arctic that may develop due to environmental change. This brief interim report highlights the most urgent and time-dependent issues, and a final report, expected to be released next summer, will examine the type and number of icebreaking ships that the U.S. requires in the long term and other issues.

Download or read book Baseline of Russian Arctic Laws written by Paul Arthur Berkman and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-03-30 with total page 734 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first comprehensive and authoritative translation into English of national and international laws of Russia that relate to the Arctic from the early 19th century to the present, revealing the historical and current context of sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction across nearly half of the north polar region. The Russian original version was coordinated by Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov, former Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and currently the President of the Russian International Affairs Council.This unique translation complements all legal, geopolitical and governance analyses of the Arctic as a primary source of information, without interpretation or bias. The Baseline of Russian Arctic Laws is a treasure trove for diplomats, scholars and students who are involved with the international environmental, economic and societal dynamics of the Arctic, balancing national interests and common interests to achieve sustainability of the high north for the benefit of all across generations in our globally-interconnected civilization.

Download or read book Maritime Futures written by Heather A. Conley and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2017-11-17 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Significant diminishment of the Arctic ice cap is propelling the advent of a new, blue water ocean and, with it, new commercial and economic opportunities. Abundant natural and mineral resources, as well as rich fishing stocks, encourage Arctic and non-Arctic nations to explore these resources through the enhanced use of Arctic maritime transportation routes, which connect geographically distant economies more directly. As a result, the evolving commercial dynamics of Arctic international shipping—both destinational and transshipment—are beginning to change. Once considered dangerous and noncommercial, Arctic shipping routes such as the Northern Sea Route are increasingly scrutinized as potential economical alternatives to some of the world’s most popular maritime passages.

Download or read book Report to Congress on Arctic Operations and the Northwest Passage written by Gary Roughead and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2012-10-07 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book U S Navy Arctic Roadmap written by U. S. Department U.S. Department of the Navy and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-12-09 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is an Arctic nation through the state of Alaska and its surrounding territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone waters located in and around the Arctic Circle. The United States Navy, as the maritime component of the Department of Defense, has global leadership responsibilities to provide ready forces for current operations and contingency response that include the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Region remains a challenging operating environment, with a harsh climate, vast distances, and little infrastructure. These issues, coupled with limited operational experience, are just a few substantial challenges the Navy will have to overcome in the Arctic Region. While the Region is expected to remain a low threat security environment where nations resolve differences peacefully, the Navy will be prepared to prevent conflict and ensure national interests are protected. In the coming decades, the Arctic Ocean will be increasingly accessible and more broadly used by Arctic and non-Arctic nations seeking the Region's abundant resources and trade routes. Due to the significant retreat of sea ice, previously unreachable areas have started to open for maritime use several weeks each year. The predicted rise in oil and gas development, fishing, tourism, and mineral mining could alter the Region's strategic importance as Arctic and non-Arctic nations make investments. Despite this gradual ice opening, the Region's frequent harsh weather and sea conditions are significant limiting factors for Arctic Ocean operations. This update of the 2009 Navy Arctic Roadmap provides guidance necessary to prepare the Navy to respond effectively to future Arctic Region contingencies, delineates the Navy's leadership role, and articulates the Navy's support to achieve national priorities in the Region. Navy functions in the Arctic Region are no different from those in other maritime regions; however, the Arctic Region environment makes the execution of many of these functions much more challenging. In May 2013, President Obama published the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, defining the desired end state as an Arctic Region stable and free of conflict, where nations act responsibly in a spirit of trust and cooperation, and where economic and energy resources are developed in a sustainable manner. In November 2013, the Secretary of Defense published the Department of Defense Arctic Strategy, identifying two supporting objectives to the National Strategy:

Download or read book Using New Ocean Technologies written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: