The Arctic Economic Council today announced the release of a report prepared by its Telecommunications Working Group on Arctic Broadband, Recommendations for an Interconnected Arctic. Among other things, the report highlights the benefits of broadband, the current state of broadband in the Arctic and unique challenges to expanding broadband in the region, funding options for Arctic […]
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The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the availability of a Record of Decision signed by Interior Sec. Sally Jewell on Tuesday approving the 2017-2022 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which includes 10 Gulf of Mexico-wide lease sales and one Cook Inlet lease sale but excludes Alaska’s Arctic and the Mid- and South Atlantic.
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In an op-ed published today in the Alaska Dispatch News, former Alaska Lt. Gov. and U.S. Arctic Research Commission Chair Mead Treadwell called on President Trump to reverse President Obama’s indefinite withdrawal of most of the U.S. Arctic from future oil and natural gas leasing. In stating that the decision “ignores the spirit of previous […]
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) today re-introduced the National Monuments Designation Transparency and Accountability Act (S. 132), and last Thursday U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the “Improved National Monument Designation Process Act” (S. 33). These bills would require congressional and state approval and and certification of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act prior to […]
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U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced the “Alaska Oil and Gas Production Act” (S. 49), a bill that would allow for oil and natural gas leasing in a small portion of the “1002 Area” of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In announcing the legislation, Sen. Murkowski said in part that “for nearly 40 years, Alaskans have […]
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The Military Times today wrote about concerns expressed by retired Adm. James Stavridis that the United States is not currently equipped to handle a military confrontation in the U.S. Arctic. Stavridis said that the Arctic is “absolutely vital — not only nationally but in the context of NATO — [as] all Arctic nations, save only Russia, are […]
In an op-ed published today in the Alaska Dispatch News, Institute of the North Executive Director Nils Andreassen talked about the negative impacts of President Obama’s decision to indefinitely remove most of the U.S. Arctic from consideration for future oil and natural gas leasing. Andreassen noted that “much of the policy and planning the U.S. and Alaska […]
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In an op-ed published by CNN today, Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow and Senior Adviser to the Special Representative for the Arctic at the U.S. State Department Walter Berbick called for the United States “to come together as “One Arctic Nation” and to take a leading role in the region, which in many […]
The Guardian today wrote about Russia’s plans to construct a nuclear-powered icebreaker to keep the Northern Sea Route open throughout the year. According to the report, the icebreaker would be capable of cutting through ice that is 6.6 feet thick and nearly 15 feet deep, and Russia’s goal is to build one main icebreaker ship along […]
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President Obama today announced his decision to indefinitely remove the entire Chukchi Sea and nearly the entire Beaufort Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. In conjunction with the announcement, the U.S. and Canada announced a series of measures to protect the Arctic, including Canada’s decision to designate all Arctic Canadian waters as indefinitely off limits to […]
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