Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Saturday 26 May 2018
Maritime organization approves Bering Strait shipping routes

By DAN JOLING or interfering directly with
Associated Press subsistence hunting,” said
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Eleanor Huffines of Pew
— An international agency Charitable Trusts.
that sets standards for ma- The routes do not limit com-
rine safety has approved mercial fishing or subsis-
two-way shipping routes tence hunting.
into the Arctic Ocean The eastern Bering Sea
through the Bering Strait. along Alaska’s coast is bio-
The International Maritime logically productive in part
Organization, an arm of the because it’s shallow. Aver-
United Nations, accepted age depths in the eastern
routes proposed by the Bering range from 20 to 245
United States and Russia feet (6 to 75 meters). The
for safe navigation in the Coast Guard plotted lanes
water between Alaska and ensuring ships of water
Russia’s Chukotskiy Penin- depths of at least 60 feet
sula. (18.3 meters).
The action designated Austin Ahmasuk, marine
routes for northbound and advocate for Kawerak Inc.,
southbound traffic on both representing 20 Alaska Na-
sides of the Diomede Is- tive villages in the Bering
lands within the Bering Strait region, traveled from
Strait, a chokepoint about In this July 14, 2017 file photo, The Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails past the American island his home in Nome to Lon-
50 miles (80 kilometers) of Little Diomede, Alaska, left, and behind it, the Russian island of Big Diomede, separated by the don to push for the routes.
wide between the northern International Date Line on the Bering Strait. The region is “massively
Bering Sea and the Chuk- Associated Press unprepared” for oil spill re-
chi Sea. to make our waterways saf- nearly a decade working are few resources north or sponse, he said.
Six areas of precaution are er, more efficient and more on safety measures in re- south of the Bering Strait to The three areas to be pro-
noted. resilient,” Mike Sollosi, chief sponse to additional Bering respond to a spill that could tected are in the Bering
The maritime organization of the agency’s Navigation Sea and Arctic Ocean ship cause serious damage to Sea and represent hazards
also designated three ar- Standards Division, said in a traffic that followed dimin- important marine resources for ships, Ahmasuk said, but
eas to be avoided around statement. ished sea ice brought on by such as bowhead and be- also are important cultural,
Alaska’s Nunivak, King and The routes take effect Dec. climate warming. The work luga whales, Pacific wal- historical and subsistence
St. Lawrence islands. 1. Their use is voluntary but culminated with a Coast ruses, ice seals, spectacled hunting sites for Alaskans.
“This is a big step forward as they ensure mariners that Guard port access route eiders and other seabirds. “Hopefully, everybody
the U.S. Coast Guard con- they can transit in deep study submitted last year. “These measures will keep will play by the rules and
tinues to work together with water without natural ob- Environmental groups vessels on the safest course these routing measures will
international, interagency structions. pushed for safe shipping and reduce the risk of them mitigate impacts from ship-
and maritime stakeholders The Coast Guard spent measures. They say there running aground, colliding, ping,” he said.q

Montana minimizes impact of mining near Yellowstone

By MATTHEW BROWN Valley. It has a long history erals expands onto federal
Associated Press of small-scale mining. lands, Gilbert said.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A The results of the explora- She said that under federal
gold exploration proposal tion work would guide the mining law, the company’s
near Yellowstone National company’s future plans for exploration work could be
Park faced a significant commercial-scale mining. used to leverage a right to
setback as a judge blamed Environmental groups sued extract minerals from be-
Montana officials for un- over the project last year neath public lands, leaving
derstating the potential for on behalf of local residents, the state unable to prevent
mining to harm land, water who are concerned mining their development.
and wildlife. could reduce tourism and Attorneys for Lucky Minerals
The ruling released Friday pollute the nearby Yellow- had argued in court filings
means the Montana De- stone River. that its application was for
This Nov. 21, 2016 file photo shows Emigrant Peak towering over partment of Environmen- State Judge Brenda R. Gil- a minor exploration proj-
the Paradise Valley in Montana north of Yellowstone National tal Quality would have to bert agreed with the en- ect, not a large-scale mine.
Park.
Associated Press conduct a lengthy environ- vironmentalists that state A company representa-
mental review before Lucky officials gave too much tive did not immediately
Minerals can proceed. deference to the company respond to email and tele-
The Vancouver, Canada, in considering the project phone messages seeking
company received ap- and ignored evidence that comment.
proval last year to begin water supplies could be State officials were review-
searching for gold, cop- damaged. ing the decision, Depart-
per and other minerals at The agency also should ment of Environmental
23 locations in Emigrant have looked more closely Quality spokeswoman Kristi
Gulch, a picturesque area at the project’s impacts on Ponozzo said.
of steep mountains and grizzly bears and wolverines She declined to say if
dense forest in south-cen- and considered the broad- an appeal was being
tral Montana’s Paradise er implications if Lucky Min- considered.q