Last week I was appointed to the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. The legislature created the commission this past session to develop an official Arctic Policy for the State of Alaska and a strategy for implementing that policy.
The opening of Arctic waters presents Alaska with new challenges and opportunities. It’s crucial for Alaska to recognize the strategic importance of its northern waters. Changes in the Arctic will open new shipping routes and provide access to areas off of the state’s northern coast that have some of the richest oil and gas deposits in the Arctic. Addressing these changes requires a review of our state’s policies in the area of habitat management, resource development, marine navigation, economic development and even national security.
Southeast Alaska also has a role to play in Arctic development. There are several potential locations for deep water, ice-free ports in our region which could provide moorage for oil and gas rigs and vessels. Southeast can position itself to capitalize on future offshore oil and gas development. Improving our region’s marine infrastructure and expanding the facilities of the Ketchikan Shipyard will provide jobs and help align our region with the resource development that will drive Alaska’s economy in the coming years.
This 20-member commission brings together a diverse group of stakeholders and policymakers to synthesize these issues under an official Arctic Policy for our state. The Commission will meet in areas around the state over the next two years and provide preliminary policy recommendations to the Legislature by January 30, 2014 followed by a final report due on January 30, 2015. Alaska needs a better roadmap to achieve success in the Arctic and the commission’s work will be a good step forward. I appreciate being appointed to the commission and look forward to working on these issues.
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