Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/13/2001 03:35 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SJR 10-US COAST GUARD FUNDING
Rear Admiral Barrett gave a power point presentation that provided
an overview of the Coast Guard's role and activities in Alaska. A
copy of the presentation is in the bill file.
Seventeenth
Coast Guard District
Serving Alaskans
Alaska State Legislature
13 February 2001
Alaska
The Maritime State
· 33,000 miles of coastline
· 25,000 commercial vessels
· 200,000 non-commercial/recreational vessels
· Over 95% of all cargo shipped via vessels
· CG's Bottom Line…Protection of Life and the Alaskan
Marine Environment
CHALLENGES
Infrastructure
· 27 Remote VHF and HF Hi Sites in remote location
· Limited Satellite and VHF coverage
· Loran Stations located in remote areas (Attu, Port
Clarence, Saint Paul, Shoal Cove)
Harsh Operating Environment
Long Distances
Coast Guard Budget in Alaska
· $200 million annual infusion into Alaska economies in
salaries and purchases
Coast Guard Personnel in Alaska
· 1,800 Active Duty & Civilian personnel
· Reserve and Auxiliary
COAST GUARD STRATEGIC GOALS
Maritime Safety
· 42 Coast Guard Units in Alaska
· Fisheries Search and Rescue (SAR)
Long range helicopters forward deployed during crab
fisheries
· Cold Bay
· Saint Paul Island
Bering Sea cutter deployed with helicopter
· YR 2000 Rescues
SAR Cases: 920
Lives Saved: 255
Lives Assisted: 1255
Southeast AK Medevacs: 53
· Prevention and Response
Seek non-regulatory solutions
· Commercial Vessel Safety
Inspection of Vessels
Licensing of Mariners
Investigation of Marine Casualties
· Fishing Vessel Safety
Most dangerous occupation in U.S.
Coast Guard safety program:
1. Dockside Exams
2. At Sea Boardings
3. "Ready for Sea" Safety Program
1980's Alaska fishing deaths averaged 40/yr
7 lives lost in 2000
· Passenger Vessel Safety
Over 2 million passengers annually embark vessels in
Alaska
Four "abandon ships" in 1999
1. Alaska Small Passenger Vessel Task Force
2. 5 Star Safety Program for Charter Boats
· Recreational and Non-Commercial Boating Safety
AK boating safety law increased visibility & saved
lives
Prevention through outreach and education
"Kids Don't Float"-Free loaner life jackets on docks
Establishing CG Auxiliary detachment in Whittier
PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Oil Spill Prevention and Response
· Major oil ports in Valdez and Cook Inlet
· Working Both Ends of the Trans Alaska Pipeline
· Statewide "risk assessments" and implementation of risk
reduction measures
1. Inspect foreign vessels calling on Alaska ports to
ensure compliance with U.S. and international
safety and environmental laws
2. Periodic Oil Spill Response Exercises
3. Respond to approx 600 oil spill and chemical
responses annually
· Valdez
1. Most closely regulated port in U.S.
· All tanker transits supervised by radar and
Automated Identification System (AIS)
· Frequent exercises to ensure prepared to
respond
· Recent scrutiny of Alyeska terminal safety
· CF Federal On Scene Coordinator
1. Bouytenders configured to recover oil
2. Pre-positioned CF spill response equipment
3. State "non tank vessel" legislation complements CG
efforts
· Cruise Ships
1. Safety of Alaska cruise ships that carry over
600,000 passengers each year
2. Addressing public concerns over environmental laws
through boardings, over-flights and sampling
· Coast Guard Enforcement
1. Increased over-flights to detect discharges
2. Expanded environmental inspections
3. Expanded environmental inspections
4. Sampling of overboard discharges
5. Implementing Murkowski's federal legislation
· Fisheries Law Enforcement
1. Largest allocation of CG resources
2. High seas driftnet
3. US/Russian maritime boundary line
4. Dixon Entrance
5. Domestic fisheries
· Domestic Fisheries Law Enforcement
1. Over 200 time/area/species openers
2. Largest individual fishing quota fishery in world
3. At sea boardings check fisheries and safety laws
4. Surveillance of Stellar Sea Lion rookeries
· High seas drift net (HSDN) operating area & operations
1. $300 million of Alaska salmon grazing on high seas
2. 9 May, foreign fishing vessel Arctic Wind located
by aircraft fishing with high seas drift net,
boarded and seized
3. Honduras flag, South Korean owner, Russian master
and crew
4. Approximately one ton of salmon on board (Chum,
Sockeye & Chinook)
MARITIME MOBILITY
· Deployment, maintenance and operation of over 1,300 aids to
navigation
1. Buoys
2. Fixed aids to navigation (shore lights)
3. LORAN stations Vessel traffic service (VTS Valdez)
· Mission to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally sound
maritime operations
· Marine transportation system
1. Alaskan waterways are the major "highway"
2. 1,300+ buoys & lights maintained and LORAN
MARITIME SECURITY
· US/Russian maritime boundary
1. Multi-national fleet targeting Pollock
2. Poor catch rates on Russian side
· Push boundary line for higher catch rates
3. Largest use of CG cutters and C-130 a/c patrol effort
4. Focus of D17/RS federal border service engagement
· Maritime boundary line activity 1999 2000
1. Incursions detected 90 26
2. Vessels identified 24 22
3. Joint US/RS boardings 0 4
4. Vessels seized 0 6
5. Vessels given verbal warnings 4 9
· Enforcement cooperation
· Summary of major cases
NATIONAL SECURITY
· Support of DOD missions
· Naval activity Alaska
· Northern Edge 2001 in Ketchikan, March
· Port security
1. Authority to establish and enforce maritime safety and
security zones to protect commercial and national
interests
· Future Challenges
1. Readiness and recapitalization
· Annual operating funds
· Spare parts
· C-130 availability 80%-60%
· Aging fleet
· Retaining trained personnel
· Replacement of aging infrastructure of ships and
planes
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
· Saving lives
· Protecting the environment
· Ensuring the mobility of waterways
Number 1160
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked if there were any questions for the
Admiral about either the presentation or Coast Guard operations in
the state.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked if the Coast Guard has difficulties getting
air parts to Attu.
REAR ADMIRAL BARRETT said there are difficulties in both Attu and
St. Paul. Recently they had to fly parts from Wisconsin to replace
a motor on a hanger door at St. Paul, which was no great problem,
but if an aircraft or a cutter is out of commission, the situation
could become urgent very quickly. Lead time is two days in good
weather and five under poor conditions.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked about difficulties in clearing the runway.
REAR ADMIRAL BARRETT said that there is no back up equipment at
Attu for clearing the runway. This is critical if a medical
evacuation is necessary.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT thanked Rear Admiral Barrett for the
presentation and then called Senator Austerman forward to give his
sponsor's statement for SJR 10.
SENATOR AUSTERMAN said he introduced SJR 10 to help maintain the
presence of the Coast Guard in Alaska. The original idea for the
resolution came from the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force.
States involved acknowledged the need for Coast Guard funding along
the entire Pacific Coast.
Looking at a map of the state of Alaska laid over a map of the
Lower 48, it is easy to see why there are difficulties associated
with patrolling the vast area under Coast Guard jurisdiction here
in Alaska.
He thought Admiral Barrett's presentation provided enough
information to make a determination on SJR 10.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT observed that the resolution was directed to
the congressional delegation and leading members of both the U.S.
House and U.S. Senate. He said there was a zero fiscal note
attached. He then asked for any questions or if there was anyone
that wanted to testify. There was no one. He asked for amendments
and there were none. He asked for the will of the committee.
SENATOR PEARCE made a motion to move SJR 10 with the zero fiscal
note from committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for any objections. There were none so
SJR 10 was moved from committee.
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