Arctic policy of the United States
Encyclopedia
The Arctic Policy of the United States refers to the foreign policy
of the United States in regards to the Arctic
region. In addition, the United States' domestic policy toward Alaska
is part of its Arctic policy.
Since March 30, 1867 (when the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire
), the United States of America has been one of the eight Arctic nations
and one of the five Arctic Ocean littoral
countries. The United States has been a member of the Arctic Council
since its inception in 1996 and is also an observer of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.
The stated goals in United States Arctic Policy are: Meet national security and homeland security needs relevant to the Arctic region; Protect the Arctic environment and conserve its biological resources; Ensure that natural resource management and economic development in the region are environmentally sustainable; Strengthen institutions for cooperation among the eight Arctic nations (the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, and Sweden); Involve the Arctic's indigenous communities in decisions that affect them; and Enhance scientific monitoring and research into local, regional, and global environmental issues.
On January 9, 2009, President Bush
signed National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-66 on Arctic Region Policy, a collaborative effort replacing the Clinton
-era Arctic policy directive,. NSPD-66 is the official, active Arctic policy being pursued by the Obama Administration
and its departments. The policy's international aims are to support the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), promote participation in the Arctic Council
, develop agreements with other Arctic countries on increased human activity in the region, and "continue to cooperate with other countries on Arctic issues through the United Nations (U.N.) and its specialized agencies." The policy argues against the need for a treaty among Arctic nations similar to the Antarctic Treaty restricting commercial and military activities. The policy calls for the US to, "assert a more active and influential national presence to protect its Arctic interests and project sea power throughout the region," and to secure free passage of vessels through the Northwest Passage
and the Northern Sea Route
.
At the March 29, 2010, "Arctic Five" meeting in Ottawa
, United States Secretary of State
, Hillary Clinton
, criticized Canada for not inviting the other three Arctic nations or indigenous groups. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister
, Lawrence Cannon
, said the meeting was not intended to, "replace or undermine the Arctic Council".
Canada is the United States' closest partner in Arctic affairs, due to geographic proximity and similar Arctic policy directives. The countries work together on scientific research, including mapping the Arctic sea floor. Two significant disagreements are the border dispute in the Beaufort Sea
and the legal designation (international or internal waters) of the Northwest Passage
.
In 1984, the United States Congress passed the "Arctic and Policy Act of 1984" to provide for the national defense of the region, enhance commercial fishing endeavors, and fund environmental and climate research in the region. The United States remained largely quiet in the international arena with regard to Arctic policy until joining the eight other Arctic countries by signing the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
agreement in 1991. The main purpose behind this agreement was to coordinate the protection of the Arctic region by: researching the various pollutants in the region and sharing the data; assessing the environmental impacts of development activities; and control pollutants and their effects on the Arctic environment. The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
was absorbed into the Arctic Council
following the Yalta Declaration in 1997.
The Arctic Council
was the face of United States Arctic Policy until the latest National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD-66) was signed by President Bush on January 9, 2009. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice, the subsequent increase in human activities in the region, and territorial considerations of the unclaimed Arctic have provided a new sense of urgency to the Arctic issue. This impetus is unique to the United States during this time because of climate change in the region. While the Arctic Council
still remains the authoritative international body on Arctic issues, the United States has started to develop its own strategy toward addressing its resources and claims toward the region.
The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has provided the strongest impetus for a more assertive United States policy in the Arctic region. The United States focuses on numerous facets of the Arctic region in promoting and explaining their reasonings for a stronger policy position in the region. As an Arctic country with territory at stake, the United States is continuously pushing for a larger influence in the region to pursue industry and energy development considerations. One of the tenets of NSPD-66 is the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), this would provide clarity and the appropriate framework for the United States to submit a claim to some area of the Arctic as the sea ice continues to melt. In addition, new passageways in commercial shipping may become available due to the breaking of ice.
The population influx in the Arctic region is also predicted to coincide with more commercial shipping, marine tourism, and the transportation of large passenger vessels. This poses coverage gaps to the US Navy and US Coast Guard search and rescue functions. Due to the non-military nature of the Arctic Council
, the United States will also need to pursue separate military agreements with other Arctic countries to ensure a protected and secure region.
.
The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force was initiated by the Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP), and NOAA in 2009 and includes representatives from more than 20 federal agencies. President Obama has called on the Task Force to develop federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.
Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, March 16, 2010
(OES) includes the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA), which is responsible for formulating and implementing US policy on international issues concerning the oceans, the Arctic, and Antarctica. Julie Gourley at the OES is the Senior Arctic Official representing the United States at Arctic Council
meetings. OES's Deputy Assistant Secretary David Balton is the lead US negotiator for the Arctic Council's search and rescue initiative.
The Navy’s Task Force Climate Change released the Navy Arctic Roadmap in November 2009 and the Navy Climate Change Roadmap in April 2010.
(Formerly The Navy had icebreakers, but now uses submarines in the Arctic.)
Admiral Gary Roughead
believes overfishing and melting sea ice are increasing the importance of the Navy in the Arctic. He also favors the United States ratifying the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty “so we have a seat at the table’’ and so the United States could “expand its sovereign rights to the increasingly accessible outer continental shelf areas of the resource-rich environment of the Arctic.’’ Navy Rear Admiral David Titley is heavily involved in Arctic Policy.
is a key player in Arctic affairs. DOI is involved in Arctic policy dealing with federally administered Alaska lands.
Fall of 2010 BLM is drafting a plan for the entire National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
: 23500000 acres (95,101.2 km²) of federal land.
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Senator Lisa Murkowski is a strong proponent of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and has introduced three Arctic bills in the 111th Congress: Senator Murkowski has participated in the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.
Senator Mark Begich
On August 3, 2009, Sen. Begich introduced the Inuvikput Package of Senate Bills 1560–1566:
The Alaska Region, with USGS and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, hosts the Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable, a coalition of senior level executives of both federal and state resource management agencies from throughout Alaska that has been meeting regularly since the Climate Change Forum for Alaska in February 2007 to share information and facilitate cooperation among agencies.
NWTF is tasked with facilitating the creation of a joint federal-state entity to coordinate US and Alaskan interests that result from the warming of the northern oceans. Members include: Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Bob Herron, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Bert Stedman, ADEC Commissioner Larry Hartig, North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta, Unalaska City Manager Chris Hladick, Nome Mayor Denise Michaels, NANA Corp VP Chuck Green, and Alaska Marine Conservation Council Chair Dave Kubiak. Alternates are Rep. Bryce Edgmon, Sen. Donald Olson, and Fish & Game Commissioner Cora Campbell.
USARC Report on Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2009–2010
The Arctic contains significant deposits of precious minerals, timber, and fish. The Arctic Policy of the US can account for great increases in wealth if the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States can be proven to extend into these areas. Research plans to determine the extent of this shelf and the amounts of resources it contains is a primary directive of NSPD-66, the prevailing Arctic Policy of the United States
In May 2008, President Bush signed a joint resolution passed by Congress relating to Arctic Fisheries. The resolution stresses the need for the United States to work with other nations to conserve and manage future Arctic fisheries.
In the area of the Arctic north of the Atlantic, extensive commercial fisheries and international managerial mechanisms already exist. North of the Bering Strait, there are currently no significant commercial fisheries and no international management mechanisms.
The Arctic Fishery Management Plan went into effect December 3, 2009, closing the Arctic Management Area to commercial fishing.
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
of the United States in regards to the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
region. In addition, the United States' domestic policy toward Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
is part of its Arctic policy.
Since March 30, 1867 (when the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
), the United States of America has been one of the eight Arctic nations
Territorial claims in the Arctic
Under international law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it. The five surrounding Arctic states, Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark , are limited to an exclusive economic zone of adjacent to their coasts.Upon ratification...
and one of the five Arctic Ocean littoral
Littoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
countries. The United States has been a member of the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
since its inception in 1996 and is also an observer of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.
The stated goals in United States Arctic Policy are: Meet national security and homeland security needs relevant to the Arctic region; Protect the Arctic environment and conserve its biological resources; Ensure that natural resource management and economic development in the region are environmentally sustainable; Strengthen institutions for cooperation among the eight Arctic nations (the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, and Sweden); Involve the Arctic's indigenous communities in decisions that affect them; and Enhance scientific monitoring and research into local, regional, and global environmental issues.
On January 9, 2009, President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
signed National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-66 on Arctic Region Policy, a collaborative effort replacing the Clinton
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
-era Arctic policy directive,. NSPD-66 is the official, active Arctic policy being pursued by the Obama Administration
Presidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
and its departments. The policy's international aims are to support the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
(UNCLOS), promote participation in the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
, develop agreements with other Arctic countries on increased human activity in the region, and "continue to cooperate with other countries on Arctic issues through the United Nations (U.N.) and its specialized agencies." The policy argues against the need for a treaty among Arctic nations similar to the Antarctic Treaty restricting commercial and military activities. The policy calls for the US to, "assert a more active and influential national presence to protect its Arctic interests and project sea power throughout the region," and to secure free passage of vessels through the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
and the Northern Sea Route
Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane officially defined by Russian legislation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean specifically running along the Russian Arctic coast from Murmansk on the Barents Sea, along Siberia, to the Bering Strait and Far East. The entire route lies in Arctic...
.
At the March 29, 2010, "Arctic Five" meeting in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
, criticized Canada for not inviting the other three Arctic nations or indigenous groups. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's international relations section of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada....
, Lawrence Cannon
Lawrence Cannon
Lawrence Cannon, PC is a Canadian politician from Quebec and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former Quebec lieutenant. On October 30, 2008 he was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs...
, said the meeting was not intended to, "replace or undermine the Arctic Council".
Canada is the United States' closest partner in Arctic affairs, due to geographic proximity and similar Arctic policy directives. The countries work together on scientific research, including mapping the Arctic sea floor. Two significant disagreements are the border dispute in the Beaufort Sea
Beaufort Sea
The Beaufort Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska, west of Canada's Arctic islands. The sea is named after hydrographer Sir Francis Beaufort...
and the legal designation (international or internal waters) of the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
.
Background and history
The current Arctic policy of the United States has its beginnings in the Nixon Administration. In December 1971, President Nixon produced National Security Decision Memorandum 144 to address the United States' stance toward the Arctic. The memo suggested that the development of the United States' Arctic policy focus on three key areas: minimize adverse risks to the environment; promote international cooperation in the Arctic; and provide for the protection of security interests in the region.In 1984, the United States Congress passed the "Arctic and Policy Act of 1984" to provide for the national defense of the region, enhance commercial fishing endeavors, and fund environmental and climate research in the region. The United States remained largely quiet in the international arena with regard to Arctic policy until joining the eight other Arctic countries by signing the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy is a multilateral, non-binding agreement among Arctic states aimed at Arctic environment protection. Discussions began in 1989, with the AEPS adopted in June 1991 by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the USSR, and the United States...
agreement in 1991. The main purpose behind this agreement was to coordinate the protection of the Arctic region by: researching the various pollutants in the region and sharing the data; assessing the environmental impacts of development activities; and control pollutants and their effects on the Arctic environment. The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy is a multilateral, non-binding agreement among Arctic states aimed at Arctic environment protection. Discussions began in 1989, with the AEPS adopted in June 1991 by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the USSR, and the United States...
was absorbed into the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
following the Yalta Declaration in 1997.
The Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
was the face of United States Arctic Policy until the latest National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD-66) was signed by President Bush on January 9, 2009. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice, the subsequent increase in human activities in the region, and territorial considerations of the unclaimed Arctic have provided a new sense of urgency to the Arctic issue. This impetus is unique to the United States during this time because of climate change in the region. While the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
still remains the authoritative international body on Arctic issues, the United States has started to develop its own strategy toward addressing its resources and claims toward the region.
The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has provided the strongest impetus for a more assertive United States policy in the Arctic region. The United States focuses on numerous facets of the Arctic region in promoting and explaining their reasonings for a stronger policy position in the region. As an Arctic country with territory at stake, the United States is continuously pushing for a larger influence in the region to pursue industry and energy development considerations. One of the tenets of NSPD-66 is the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
(UNCLOS), this would provide clarity and the appropriate framework for the United States to submit a claim to some area of the Arctic as the sea ice continues to melt. In addition, new passageways in commercial shipping may become available due to the breaking of ice.
The population influx in the Arctic region is also predicted to coincide with more commercial shipping, marine tourism, and the transportation of large passenger vessels. This poses coverage gaps to the US Navy and US Coast Guard search and rescue functions. Due to the non-military nature of the Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
, the United States will also need to pursue separate military agreements with other Arctic countries to ensure a protected and secure region.
United States Executive Agencies That Deal with US Arctic Policy
The US Arctic Policy Group is a federal inter-agency working group comprising those agencies with programs and/or involvement in research and monitoring, land and natural resources management, environmental protection, human health, transportation and policy making in the Arctic. The APG is chaired by the Department of State and meets monthly to develop and implement US programs and policies in the Arctic, including those relevant to the activities of the Arctic CouncilArctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
.
The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force was initiated by the Council on Environmental Quality
Council on Environmental Quality
The Council on Environmental Quality is a division of the Executive Office of the President that coordinates federal environmental efforts in the United States and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental and energy policies and initiatives...
(CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is an office in the Executive Office of the President , established by Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.The director of this office is...
(OSTP), and NOAA in 2009 and includes representatives from more than 20 federal agencies. President Obama has called on the Task Force to develop federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.
Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, March 16, 2010
Executive Office of the President (White House)
The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff. Entities within the EOP include: Council on Environmental Quality, National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science and Technology Policy, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, and others.Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
The CEQ's Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force released its Final Recommendations July 19, 2010. One recommendation was to create The National Ocean Council (NOC), which is co-chaired by the CEQ and the OSTP. The USARC, in conjunction with the Navy and under the aegis of the National Ocean Council, is developing an Arctic Strategic Action Plan.Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)
Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. This organizaiton also co-chairs the National Ocean Council.National Security Council
The National Security Council's Tom Atkin is involved in Arctic Policy.Department of State
The State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific AffairsBureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is a bureau within the United States Department of State. It coordinates a portfolio of issues related to the world's oceans, environment, science and technology, and health....
(OES) includes the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA), which is responsible for formulating and implementing US policy on international issues concerning the oceans, the Arctic, and Antarctica. Julie Gourley at the OES is the Senior Arctic Official representing the United States at Arctic Council
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...
meetings. OES's Deputy Assistant Secretary David Balton is the lead US negotiator for the Arctic Council's search and rescue initiative.
Department of Defense
- US Navy
The Navy’s Task Force Climate Change released the Navy Arctic Roadmap in November 2009 and the Navy Climate Change Roadmap in April 2010.
(Formerly The Navy had icebreakers, but now uses submarines in the Arctic.)
Admiral Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that he served as...
believes overfishing and melting sea ice are increasing the importance of the Navy in the Arctic. He also favors the United States ratifying the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty “so we have a seat at the table’’ and so the United States could “expand its sovereign rights to the increasingly accessible outer continental shelf areas of the resource-rich environment of the Arctic.’’ Navy Rear Admiral David Titley is heavily involved in Arctic Policy.
Department of Commerce
- National Ocean & Atmospheric Administration(NOAA)
Department of the Interior
Secretary Ken SalazarKen Salazar
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
is a key player in Arctic affairs. DOI is involved in Arctic policy dealing with federally administered Alaska lands.
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
- Bureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian AffairsThe Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
- Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land ManagementThe Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
Fall of 2010 BLM is drafting a plan for the entire National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is an area of land on the Alaska North Slope owned by the United States federal government and managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management . It lies to the west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which as a U.S...
: 23500000 acres (95,101.2 km²) of federal land.
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- United States Geological Survey
- National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Energy
Involved with Arctic policy dealing with pipeline issues.Department of Agriculture
- USDA Rural Development
- Rural Utilities ServiceRural Utilities Serviceis an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , one of the federal executive departments of the United States government charged with providing public utilities to rural areas in the United States via public-private partnerships...
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Health and Human Services
National Science Foundation
Senator Lisa MurkowskiLisa MurkowskiLisa Ann Murkowski is the senior U.S. Senator from the State of Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. She was appointed to the Senate in 2002 by her father, Governor Frank Murkowski. After losing a Republican primary in 2010, she became the second person ever to win a U.S...
(Alaska)
Senator Lisa Murkowski is a strong proponent of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and has introduced three Arctic bills in the 111th Congress: Senator Murkowski has participated in the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.
- Legislation to implement some of the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment recommendations, including a study on infrastructure needed for increased Arctic maritime transportation; and construction of two new heavy icebreakers to replace the aging Polar Sea and Polar Star.
- Legislation amending the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act to authorize funding to get data and services to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineation of the US-extended continental shelfContinental shelfThe continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
, and for monitoring of coastal changes. - Legislation to study the feasibility, location and resource needs for an Arctic deep water port.
Senator Mark BegichMark BegichMark Peter Begich is the junior United States Senator from Alaska and a member of the Democratic Party. A former mayor of Anchorage, he served on the Anchorage Assembly for almost ten years prior to being elected mayor in 2003...
(Alaska)
On August 3, 2009, Sen. Begich introduced the Inuvikput Package of Senate Bills 1560–1566:
- Arctic OCS Revenue Sharing Act: Share potential federal revenues from offshore oil & gas development with the State of Alaska and residents most affected by development
- Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Implementation Act: Implement the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment
- Arctic Science, Coordination, and Integration Act: Have the National Research Council study long-term Arctic research strategies and coordination
- Arctic Ambassador Act: Appointing a US Ambassador to the Arctic
- Arctic Oil Spill Research & Recovery Act: Have the Sec. of Commerce research improved methods of oil spill prevention and response in the Arctic and require the Coast Guard to access and reduce risk from Arctic spills
- Better Health in the Arctic Act: Initiate a study into Arctic health problems, institute an Arctic Health assessment program at CDC and create an "Arctic desk" at the National Institute of Health.
- Arctic Climate Change Adaptation Act: Help the State of Alaska, Native organizations, and Arctic communities adapt to impacts of climate change
Governor of Alaska
State of Alaska Administrative Departments
- The Department of State and State of Alaska Ad Hoc Working Group consists of representatives of the State of Alaska, Native organizations, universities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal agencies in Alaska. It meets monthly and provides a consolidated Alaskan viewpoint on Arctic issues to the Department of State and other federal policymakers and keeps Alaska informed of US policy issues in the Arctic and Arctic Council affairs.
- Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable
The Alaska Region, with USGS and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, hosts the Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable, a coalition of senior level executives of both federal and state resource management agencies from throughout Alaska that has been meeting regularly since the Climate Change Forum for Alaska in February 2007 to share information and facilitate cooperation among agencies.
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Environmental Conservation
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Alaska Legislature
NWTF is tasked with facilitating the creation of a joint federal-state entity to coordinate US and Alaskan interests that result from the warming of the northern oceans. Members include: Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Bob Herron, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Bert Stedman, ADEC Commissioner Larry Hartig, North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta, Unalaska City Manager Chris Hladick, Nome Mayor Denise Michaels, NANA Corp VP Chuck Green, and Alaska Marine Conservation Council Chair Dave Kubiak. Alternates are Rep. Bryce Edgmon, Sen. Donald Olson, and Fish & Game Commissioner Cora Campbell.
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
IARPC consists of fifteen-plus agencies, departments, and offices across the US federal government and is chaired by the National Science Foundation. IARPC develops the US Arctic Research Plan and coordinates US research programs to support US Arctic policy.United States Arctic Research Commission
The Commission’s main purpose is to establish the national policy, priorities, and goals necessary to construct a federal program plan for basic and applied scientific research with respect to the Arctic, including natural resources and materials, physical, biological and health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences and to recommend Arctic research policy, and to communicate our research and policy recommendations to the President and the Congress.USARC Report on Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2009–2010
Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS)
The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States was formed in 1988 to identify and bring together the human and facilities resources of the Arctic research community in the United States. ARCUS is a non-profit corporation consisting of institutions organized and operated for educational, professional, or scientific purposes. The ARCUS headquarters and staff are located in Fairbanks, Alaska.University of the Arctic
The University of the Arctic is a cooperative network of universities, colleges and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North.University of Alaska
- International Arctic Research Center (UAF)
- Geophysical Institute (UAF)
- Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR)(UAF)
- University of Alaska Geography Program
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, UAA (ISER)
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UAF)
- Institute of Arctic Biology (UAF)
- Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory (UAF)
Institute of Arctic Studies (Dartmouth)
Institute of the North
Anchorage-based think tank on Arctic and other issues. Worked on the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment.The Northern Forum
The Northern Forum is a non-profit, international organization composed of sub-national or regional governments from eight northern countries. The Forum's mission is to improve the quality of life of Northern peoples by using leadership networking to tackle common problems; and to support sustainable development and cooperative socio-economic initiatives.Arctic Resources and Industries
The United States Geological Survey estimates that 22 percent of the world's oil and natural gas could be located beneath the Arctic and that some of these reserves would be within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.The Arctic contains significant deposits of precious minerals, timber, and fish. The Arctic Policy of the US can account for great increases in wealth if the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States can be proven to extend into these areas. Research plans to determine the extent of this shelf and the amounts of resources it contains is a primary directive of NSPD-66, the prevailing Arctic Policy of the United States
Fisheries
The range of some sub-Arctic fish stocks is likely to extend into Arctic areas due to climate change, and decreasing ice-cover will likely lead to more fishing activity. Scientific understanding of Arctic fish populations is limited and needs to be studied before increased Arctic fishing occurs.In May 2008, President Bush signed a joint resolution passed by Congress relating to Arctic Fisheries. The resolution stresses the need for the United States to work with other nations to conserve and manage future Arctic fisheries.
In the area of the Arctic north of the Atlantic, extensive commercial fisheries and international managerial mechanisms already exist. North of the Bering Strait, there are currently no significant commercial fisheries and no international management mechanisms.
The Arctic Fishery Management Plan went into effect December 3, 2009, closing the Arctic Management Area to commercial fishing.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC)
The NPFMC is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage the nation's fisheries. With jurisdiction over the 900000 square miles (2,330,989.3 km²) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska, the Council has primary responsibility for groundfish management in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, including cod, pollock, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species. Other large Alaska fisheries such as salmon, crab and herring are managed primarily by the State of Alaska.See also
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External links
- US Arctic Policy, Jan. 9, 2009 – NSPD 66
- United States Arctic Research Commission
- US State Department’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs
- Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
- The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC)
- US Deputy Secretary of State: Arctic region will be next international strategic challenge