Coast Guard : efforts to identify Arctic requirements are ongoing, but more communication about Agency planning efforts would be beneficial : report to congressional requesters

Efforts to Identify Arctic Requirements Are Ongoing, but More Communication about Agency Planning Efforts Would Be Beneficial......Page 1 Contents......Page 3 ......Page 6 Receding Ice Opens Potential for Increased Commerce in the Arctic......Page 11 Varying Definitions of the Arctic Are Used......Page 12 International Conventions and Organizations Facilitate International Collaboration in the Arctic......Page 13 The United States Has Regulations and Policies That Govern Arctic Operations......Page 14 The Coast Guard Is the Primary Federal Maritime Agency in the Arctic, but Multiple Stakeholders Also Have Arctic Responsibilities......Page 15 The Coast Guard Coordinates and Collaborates with Foreign Governments on Arctic Policy Issues......Page 17 The Coast Guard Coordinates with Federal Agencies on Arctic Operations and Uses Key Practices to Collaborate on Arctic Policy......Page 20 The Coast Guard Engages Alaska Native Interest Groups to Improve the Agency’s Cultural and Operational Awareness......Page 24 The Coast Guard Uses Formal and Informal Mechanisms to Coordinate with the Private Sector in the Arctic......Page 25 Stakeholders Reported Having Limited Information about the Coast Guard’s Arctic Planning Efforts and More Communication about Agency Planning Efforts Would Be Beneficial......Page 27 High Latitude Study Is the Centerpiece of the Coast Guard’s Efforts to Identify Arctic Requirements......Page 29 The Coast Guard’s Temporary Arctic Operations Test Assets, Build Relationships with Local Communities, and Inform Operational Requirements......Page 31 The Coast Guard’s Arctic Overflights Also Test Capabilities, Increase Maritime Domain Awareness, and Inform Requirements......Page 32 The Coast Guard’s Routine Arctic Operations Also Inform Requirements......Page 34 The Coast Guard’s Preliminary Efforts to Determine Future Arctic Requirements Generally Align with Key Practices We Have Identified for Defining Agency Missions......Page 35 The Coast Guard Has Limited Maritime Domain Awareness in the Arctic, but Is Working to Acquire Additional Data......Page 36 Coast Guard Assets and Infrastructure for Arctic Missions Are Limited and Not Suitable for the Arctic Environment......Page 39 The Coast Guard Lacks the Infrastructure to Maintain a Consistent Presence in the Arctic......Page 42 Coast Guard Personnel Face Challenges Operating in the Arctic Due to Limited Training Opportunities......Page 44 The Identification of Detailed Arctic Requirements Will Require Further Data and Take Considerable Time, and Funding Is Uncertain......Page 45 Conclusions......Page 46 Agency Comments......Page 47 Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology......Page 49 Appendix II: Examples of State, Local, and Alaska Native Stakeholders Operating in the Arctic......Page 53 Appendix III: Examples of Coast Guard Coordination with Key Federal, State, Local, Alaska Native, and Private Sector Stakeholders......Page 54 Appendix IV: Select Interagency Coordination Efforts Related to Arctic Policy......Page 56 Appendix V: Coast Guard’s Routine Arctic Operations That Also Inform Future Requirements......Page 58 Appendix VI: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments......Page 65 Related GAO Products......Page 66 Order by Phone......Page 67