Arctic news June 18 The Arctic This Week

The Arctic This Week June 8 - June 14, 2015

By Doris Friedrich,Mike McCormack, Seth Myers and Ryan Uljua June 17, 2015

courtesy: Deutsch Roemer

Welcome and thanks for joining us this week! We hope that you find TATW interesting and entertaining to read. If you’re not a subscriber yet, you can sign up here. As always, all editorial choices, opinions and any mistakes are the authors’ own. Anything that we missed? Please feel free to share material with us if you think it deserves inclusion in TATW.

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

U.S. federal court rejects environmentalists’ suit, upholds government’s review of Shell’s Arctic plans

In a 2-1 decision, a U.S. federal appeals court determined that the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) undertook proper procedures in reviewing the environmental impacts of Shell’s exploration plans in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The ruling upholds a 2013 federal district court decision. The suit was brought by a coalition of environmental groups who argued that the BSEE did not properly assess the potential hazards posed by Shell’s activities (Reuters). The ruling is a major blow to attempts by environmental groups to block Shell’s imminent resumption of exploration activities in the Arctic. The Arctic Challenger, Shell’s first exploration vessel in its Arctic operations, departed Washington state for Alaska last week (Reuters).

Polar bears supplementing their diet with dolphins

Warm waters have drawn dolphins into Arctic waters, where they have recently fallen prey to polar bears. This is the first time that scientists have observed that polar bears feed on this species. The dolphins were probably trapped under the ice and caught by the bear once they came to a breathing hole in the ice (Bloomberg). A study led by an international research team around Jon Aars of the Norwegian Polar Institute has been published onPolar Research.NRK (in Norwegian) has more pictures.

Russia’s ambitions along the Northern Sea Route

Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has approved a plan for developing the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and plans to increase the route’s capacity by 20 times to more than 80 million tons over the next 15 years.The comprehensive plan aims at increasing transportation volumes and building up Russia’s advantages on the NSR. The plan consists of six elements: navigational and hydrographic support, the improvement and update of relevant maps, a system of maritime traffic regulations, environmental standards and the protection of the seas against pollution, and the establishment of an infrastructure for search and rescue along the route (BO,MarEx). Moreover, as part of the Project 22220 Russia plans to augment its icebreaker fleet and is developing two new nuclear icebreakers expected to be built by Baltic Shipyard by the end of 2020 (AIR).

THE POLITICAL SCENE

Not available this week

ENERGY

Russia’s Rosneft likely to extend suspension of Kara Sea drilling

Having already determined that it would suspend the drilling of a second well in the Kara Sea for the remainder of 2015, Rosneft is reportedly facing further drilling delays until at least 2018. Sources close to the company have stated that the company continues to suffer from the effects of Western sanctions. The effects of the Western sanctions most notably includes the suspension of cooperation with Exxon, whom Rosneft was dependent on for technical expertise in drilling activities (Reuters). The company did receive some breathing room, however, as Russia’s state regulator granted an extension to several of its Arctic licenses (BO).

Canada

Unconventional petroleum resources found in Canada’s Sahtu region...now what? (EOTA).

ConocoPhillips well closure plans cause concern (NORJ).

Norway

The Norwegian government failed to win parliamentary approval to move the country’s Arctic drilling boundaries northward, raising questions for how policymakers will balance economic needs with environmental consciousness (Reuters).

Russia

Despite the ongoing effects of Western sanctions on Russia, several senior European energy executives are expected to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this week (ME).

The Arctic Paradox and Russia’s Energy Policy (Aleksanteri Insight).

Novak: Seismic operations in the Arctic are going according to plan (BO).

Dock trials of floating nuclear power plant to start this summer (BO).

One less radiation hazard in Murmansk (BO).

United States

Although energy production in Alaska has declined in the past two decades, a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that the Chukchi Sea potentially holds a significant level of energy resources (MarEx).

TAI’s Victoria Herrmann offers some new perspectives to the U.S. Arctic energy debate that go beyond disputes between Shell and environmental activists (AD).

Bellingham activists down from anchor chain (MarEx).

Oil lobby confronts image problem in Arctic drilling (The Hill).

AIDEA approves $52.5M purchase of Fairbanks Natural Gas (AJOC).

Summer maintenance begins on trans-Alaska oil pipeline (PN).

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker tours prospective energy operations (PN).

Researchers test skimming system in ice (PN).

SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Large-scale noise monitoring effort in the Arctic Ocean

NOAA’s current research project, which is assessing how noisy the oceans are, is the first effort to investigate changes in ocean noisiness covering vast areas of U.S. water over the long-term. Last year they established the Ocean Noise Reference Station Network, which comprises ten underwater listening stations, including two in Alaska (NOAA).

Preparations for the American Geotraces project underway

The U.S. Coast Guard’s medium-duty icebreaker Healy is preparing to take a team of researchers through the Bering Strait and to the North Pole this summer as part of the Geotraces project, an international effort to study the chemistry of Arctic waters. The vessel will leave from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in early August (AD,PN).

Earth sciences, climate & weather

Hubbard Glacier defies climate change, continues advancing (CBC).

Snowploughs out in North Sweden week before Midsummer (EOTA).

NWT fires: Changing jet stream wreaking havoc on weather (NORJ).

Fort McKay air quality study lacking: First Nation (NORJ).

Searching Alaska's backcountry for rocks from space (AS).

Siberia registers its warmest recorded spring sparking new fears for rapid climate change (ST).

Floods break the banks of the River Ob, with 10 metre rise in water level (ST).

Wildlife & ecology

NOAA Reports Sea Lions on Softuk Beach Deliberately Killed (ANN).

New fish limits for Little Buffalo River ‘not enough’: Métis (NORJ).

Denali plants are more diverse up high (AS).

Buffalo return to Saskatchewan First Nation fulfilling prophecy (APTN).

Bird feeder angered after taking this photo (NRK, in Norwegian).

Strong increase in elk and deer collisions (NRK, in Norwegian).

Prince of Wales Island wolf population plummets (AJOC).

Expeditions & research blogs

Negotiating the ice – How Polarstern breaks through the Arctic (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

In the grip of the ice – The power of the Arctic Ocean (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

Approaching mid-point of the expedition: Thoughts and experiences from the science team (Polarstern Blog – Helmholtz).

Environmental management

State of emergency over stray dogs in Chita after attacks on children (Siberia) (ST).

Comes like a thief in the night (aquaculture) (NRK, in Norwegian).

University & research news

NOAA Deploys Survey Ships for Arctic Charting Projects (ANN).

UA Fairbanks leading way on Arctic research (AJOC).

Russian, US Scientists to Cooperate in Space Exploration Despite Sanctions (Sputnik).

Management Aspects of Russian Northern Territories' Development - international conference in Syktyvkar, 21-24 October 2015. Registration deadline is 13 September (UArctic).

Fram Science Days in Tromsø, focus on the theme “Multi-stressors in the Arctic Marine Ecosystem”, 10-11 November 2015 in Tromsø. Abstract deadline: 10 October (UArctic).

Archaeology

Yukon College students digging up history (CBC).

Sachs Harbour elders, youth examine ancient Banks Island artifacts (CBC).

Ice-age camel bones, found in Yukon, rearrange camel family tree (CBC).

MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE

Not available this week

MINING

Environmental concerns raised at shuttered North American Tungsten mine

North American Tungsten will shutter its Cantung mine site near the Yukon-NWT border in light of falling tungsten prices and other financial problems (CBC). The shutdown comes after North American Tungsten announced the temporary layoff of 80 employees at Cantung last week. In light of the shutdown, environmental activists have raised concerns that the company’s recent financial troubles may endanger clean-up and eventual reclamation efforts at Cantung, similar to the issues that Yukon Zinc ran into in early 2015 at the nearby Wolverine Mine (NORJ).

A federal judge in Alaska has allowed a lawsuit by developers of the proposed Pebble’s copper and gold mine in Bristol Bay against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to go ahead (AJOC).

Five Canadian gold exploration companies--Oban Mining, Eagle Hill Exploration, Temex Resources, Corona Gold, and Ryan Gold--announced plans to merge and form a new entity called New Oban (PN).

According to statistics from the Geological Survey of Sweden, the country produced a record amount of mineral ore in 2014 despite a spate of high-profile financial crises in the Swedish mining sector (BO).

Mining News: Back to Terra firma (PN).

News Nuggets: Constantine resumes drilling at Palmer (PN).

Northern Neighbors: TerraX, Osisko began YCG fieldwork (PN).

Northern Neighbors: Busy season under way at Brucejack (PN).

Northern Neighbors: Q1-4 diamond valuation cautiously low (PN).

Northern Neighbors: Kaminak drills gold zones near Kona (PN).

Northern Neighbors: BC continues support of public geoscience (PN).

GOLD: Agnico fills gap, finds new structure at Whale Tail (CMJ).

ZINC: Prairie Creek underground samples yield 4% to 15% zinc (CMJ).

URANIUM: NexGen outlines 25,000-metre drill program at Arrow zone (CMJ).

QIA, NTI team up against Baffinland's request for NPC exemption (CBC).

Agnico Eagle to study satellite mining operation for Nunavut’s Meadowbank (NN).

FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS

Fisheries

FISH FACTOR: Salmon, other big summer fisheries getting underway (AJOC).

North Pacific council will seek changes to recusal process (AJOC).

Council cuts halibut bycatch by 25% for flatfish trawlers (AJOC).

Anti-setnet group scrubs site after submitting signatures (AJOC).

Fisheries open to high prices (AS).

Kotzebue fishery expects a big year (AS).

Shipping

Underwater robots could soon appear in Russia's Far East (RBTH).

Maritime charting - A race against commerce (AJ).

Chinese Companies to Invest in Norwegian Ports Near Russian Border (Sputnik).

Maritime Group Approves Aleutian Shipping ‘Buffer Zones’ (APM).

Qikiqtaaluk Corporation Joins World Ocean Council (WOC).

Russian ship rams Coast Guard (mbl).

Tourism

North Pole nuclear cruises season started (BO).

Russia’s image problem puts a damper on international tourism (RBTH).

Other business and economic news

U.S. & Canada

Gameti's garden grows, adds goats and chickens (NWT) (CBC).

N.W.T. culture contributes little to GDP: Stats Canada (CBC).

Ryerson students, Nunavut hamlet team up on food insecurity (CBC).

Singleton Announces Kodiak Daily Mirror and Fairbanks Daily News Miner Up for Sale (ANN).

Nordics

Iceland’s economy - The long road back (AJ).

Can Norway’s Electric Car Success Be a Model for World? (TNP).

Innovation in Norway is speeding up (NORA).

Lapland this summer welcomes a couple of thousand foreign berry pickers (LK, in Finnish).

Heinemann Duty Free and Travel Retail Norway launch “Arctic Adventure” promotion (DFNI).

Atlantic Airways gets new CEO (NORA).

Russia

Crisis in Russian clothing sector creates opportunities for Southeast Asian exporters (RBTH).

HEALTH, YOUTH, SOCIETY AND CULTURE

2018 Arctic Winter Games hosts make it official

The formal contract to host to host the 2018 Arctic Games was signed by representative from Hay River, NWT and Fort Smith, NWT (AJ). The Games are tentatively scheduled to take place March 17-24, 2018. The joint bid by Hay River and Fort Smith to host the 2018 Arctic Games beat out a bid by Inuvik, NWT in March.

Health

Arctic berries may hold key to diabetes prevention (AIR).

Arctic health conference offers new directions for future research (NN).

Nunavut babies at risk of preventable low blood sugar: research (NN).

Nunavik Inuit health study from 2004 continues to churn out info (NN).

Society

Throwback Thursday: Nobody Lives on Attu Anymore (Cryopolitics).

Walls raised on Iqaluit's mosque (CBC).

Iqaluit's soup kitchen gets new name, outlook (CBC).

Pangnirtung food pantry puts new spin on food security (CBC).

Iqaluit Hunters and Trappers Association hosts country food feast (CBC).

NTI joins long list of supporters for inquiry into murdered Aboriginal women (NN).