Alaska Deep-Water Port Proposed for Vessels in Arctic Waters
Source: Associated Press
Alaska Deep-Water Port Proposed for Vessels in Arctic Waters
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Feb 19, 2015, 4:44 PM ET
By DAN JOLING Associated Press
A historic Alaska gold-mining city could be the first place where the federal government invests in a deep-water port to serve vessels in Arctic waters.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to release a study for public comment that suggests expanding the Port of Nome as a first step in improving infrastructure along Alaska's west and north coast.
Nome is south of the Bering Strait but far closer to Arctic waters than the nearest Coast Guard base in Kodiak, an island east of the Aleutian Chain.
The lack of a deep-water port along Alaska's north and west coasts has been a point of concern as climate warming has made Arctic waters more accessible. As ship traffic has increased, the corps, the Coast Guard and other federal agencies have expressed concern about responding to vessels in distress, industrial activities and oil spills.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alaska-deep-water-port-proposed-vessels-arctic-waters-29080010