$400,000

Chief, Alaska Environmental Studies Section

MMS conducted studies providing detailed mapping of a wide range of subsistence activities for Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, and Barrow about 1990.  Information is available from recent subsistence scientific, private, and government sources.  For example, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has done some detailed mapping of subsistence activities for these three North Slope s villages since 1990 but the mapping needs to be put in usable form.  MMS assesses cumulative effects in EIS’s and, therefore, needs documentation on more current subsistence patterns for comparison between 1990 and the present.  Exploration on the offshore, including the OCS and much onshore development has taken place since 1990.  Much oil and gas infrastructure has been built onshore since 1990.  Northstar is the first offshore oil development connecting to the onshore developments centered at Prudhoe Bay and it began production in 2001.  The Liberty development, if approved, would be the first on the Beaufort Sea OCS.  In general, exploration and development activities have directly affected Nuiqsut most significantly, followed by Kaktovik and then Barrow.  This study will coordinate with the documentation of subsistence activities at Cross Island, which is part of the ongoing “Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring In Development Areas” (ANIMIDA) study and continuation of that study.  It may utilize information from the ongoing study titled “Reference Manual and GIS Overlays of Oil-Industry and Other Human Activities (1979-1998) in the Beaufort Sea”.

Develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) to map and analyze changes in and potential interactions between subsistence activities and oil industry activities. 

1.   Consult with key organizations to refine the scope of work for the study and to plan for conduct of the study.  Such organizations may include the North Slope Borough Planning and Wildlife Management Departments, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the Native Villages of Barrow, Nuiqsut and Kaktovik, and ADF&G Subsistence Division, and others as appropriate.

2.   Compile information regarding subsistence geospatial patterns from MMS sponsored and other studies conducted in Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, Barrow, and Wainwright during the 1990s.  Assess the quality of existing geo-spatial data and convert to GIS format where possible.  Include data from the ADF&G Individual Harvest-Area Maps and Key Informant Mapping Project completed for MMS.

3.   Compile current information on subsistence activities and use of resources for Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, Barrow, and Wainwright as available from recent work conducted by scientific, private, and government entities.  Gather primary source data regarding current subsistence effort, and use of resources from knowledgeable key informants resident in Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, and Barrow.  These data may be acquired through scoping meetings, focus groups, and in-person interviews.  The data collection effort will coordinate with other MMS studies such as “Quantitative Description of Potential Impacts of OCS Activities on Bowhead Whale Hunting and Subsistence Activities in the Beaufort Sea,” and the “Traditional Knowledge/Western Science Bowhead Whale Seasonal Migration Report.”

4.   Generate maps depicting where subsistence activities are currently taking place and at what level of intensity.  Products will show potential changes in:

-- Harvests                                                       -- Costs

-- Access to resources                                      -- Effort

-- Competition for resources                             -- Levels of risk

5.   For each subsistence activity map, provide context describing in standardized and specific terms the nature and source of the data.

6.   Illustrate on maps the location, nature of, and changes onshore and offshore oil industry infrastructure for 1990, a mid-point year, and the most current year.  Depict exploration activity, including seismic exploration and drilling by year since 1990 to the present.

7.   Develop overlay maps depicting changes in subsistence activities and changes in oil and gas activities.  Develop analysis to address potential cumulative-effect dynamics occurring between subsistence and oil and gas activities.  Develop descriptive context to augment the analysis.

8.   Review and evaluate effectiveness of current federal and state mitigation associated with oil and gas activity regarding potential displacement of subsistence resources and resource users.

9.   Review graphic and written analysis with key informants and key organizations including but not limited to those identified in 1 above.  Disseminate ongoing and final products of study to local residents through village workshops and integrate workshop feedback into the final analysis.

10. Input all final spatial information on subsistence and industry activity into a Geographical Information System.

11. Make resulting information available to the public on CD-ROM.

MMS will use the products of this study to address OCSLA requirements, assist NEPA-document preparation, prepare mitigating measures, review oil-spill-contingency plans, facilitate outreach with North Slope communities regarding the MMS program, and review and formulate offshore policy for Alaska.

GIS design work is largely completed.  Field work in the villages has been delayed, partially to assure minimal overlap of multiple projects on village residents. 

August 2004

April 2004

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