01

Transmittal Memo

"Ten studies were identified as a priority for: 1) meeting near-term regulatory requirements; 2) informing the BLM-led Environmental Impact Statement for the 1002 area; and/or needed to permit/inform seismic exploration 

02

Noise

"No peer-reviewed literature has addressed the conflict between low-flying aircraft and traditional harvesters in Arctic Alaska despite extensive evidence that such conflicts are widespread"

03

Public Health

"A health baseline assessment focusing on potential health benefits and impacts from oil & gas exploration and development in the ANWR 1002 Coastal Plain does not exist."

04

Subsistence Use

"Ethnographic and socio-economic information is not available to assess subsistence uses and impacts to these communities as a result of oil and gas development and production."

05

Birds

"Although surveys have demonstrated the importance of the Refuge lagoons for waterbirds, there is poor understanding of the phenology of their use of this."

06

Vegetation, Soils, Permafrost

"The most detailed vegetation map of the 1002 area is from 1994. The age and low accuracy make this map inadequate for planning of industrial operations or stipulations on vehicle routing."

07

Air Quality

"Key information gaps [include] a clear project description that details the Reasonable Foreseeable Development"

08

Visitor Use

"There is no information about the number of people who visit the Refuge without using commercial services or about what activities they participate in."

09

Caribou

"Estimated rates of survival and recruitment are not sufficiently precise."

10

Polar Bears

"The population experienced a 40% decline between 2001 and 2010 . . . we generally lack an understanding of the importance of the 1002 Area to the overall population"

11

Other Mammals

"Little is known about wolf and wolverine densities and relationships with infrastructure on the North Slope."

12

Fishes

"We don’t have this information for all aquatic habitats that might be considered for exploratory seismic surveys or industrial water use."

13

Cultural Resources

"We do not know the extent of cultural resource sites across the landscape."

14

Contaminants

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently have sufficient FTEs with environmental contaminants knowledge and skills to conduct or review studies"

15

Oil Spills

"These data would also help inform contingency planning and spill response activities, including identification of resources at risk."

16

Paleontological Resources

"There have been no paleontological resource investigations conducted within the Arctic Plain 1002 area"

18

Snow / Climate

"Little is known about the watershed area of isolated lakes in this region and the potential for lakes to be recharged during snowmelt."

17

Coastal Resources

"We need updated shoreline erosion/change rates . . . some areas have not recovered since 19070’s suggesting subsidence"

19

Water and Waterways

"oil exploration activity . . . will result in increased potential for contamination, alteration of surface and groundwater hydrology, and additional impacts to fish and wildlife habitat." 

Created By: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility 2019 / www.peer.org