i'SSE-HMIRONMENTAUBBRUiTEeTJON'AGElNJ^
Pacific'Northwest
Serving: Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington 270 Tribal Nations
North Slope Communications Protocol
Communication Guidelines
to Support Meaningful Involvement
of the North Slope Communities
in EPA Decision-Making
NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH
May 2009
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Message from the Acting Regional Administrator:
In Region 10 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), communication through
community involvement is a cornerstone of much of the work we do.
This document represents a tailored approach for the Region's communications in Alaska with
communities of the North Slope. Because of the area's unique geography, culture, and
environmental issues, we need to take extra care to ensure our efforts to involve communities on
the North Slope meet their needs, as well as comply with our Agency's public involvement
requirements.
Communication is a two-way street, and most successful when built on a foundation of
knowledge, trust, solid relationships, basic courtesy, and the right resources. The North Slope
Communications Protocol (Protocol) seeks to lay out sensible processes, practical tools, and
helpful background information to prepare Region 10 employees for successful community
involvement on the North Slope. The goal for this Protocol is to improve the agency's
effectiveness in working with North Slope communities. By adhering to the guidelines in this
Protocol, you will work more effectively and fairly in these communities.
The Region will implement this Protocol beginning in May 2009. It is intended to be a living
document which will be revised as we learn over time. This document is expected to be a well-
used, hands-on guide for EPA staff and managers who are working on issues which may affect
the communities of the North Slope. Close adherence to this communication guidance should
enable North Slope communities to have meaningful involvement in EPA actions that can
potentially affect them which is an important goal of our environmental justice program.
Sometimes we must look beyond minimum regulatory requirements, and go the extra step, or
mile or two, to truly have meaningful involvement of the public in our decision-making. At the
same time, we must comply with all federal laws, regulations, and policies, including
environmental justice and tribal consultation. I am committed to open, fair, and timely processes
and expect that all employees of EPA Region 10 share that commitment.
Sincerely,
Michelle L. Pirzadeh
Acting Regional Administrator
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 COMMUNICATION WITH NORTH SLOPE COMMUNITIES
Region 10 Protocol Statement:
Implementing the Protocol: _ 4
General principles for successful communications _ 5
Communication Limitations _ 8
3.0 TRIBAL CONSULTATION 9
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 10
5.0 ABOUT THE NORTH SLOPE 11
Geography 11
Cultural Information 12
An Example Subsistence Year 12
APPENDIX A: ABBREVIATIONS 15
APPENDIX B: NORTH SLOPE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL GUIDE 16
Process Guide 16
Sample Work Sheets 19
NORTH SLOPE COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL 19
APPENDIX C: TRAVEL TO THE NORTH SLOPE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW_22
APPENDIX D: TOOL BOX 24
Internal EPA Contacts 24
Community Contacts 24
Post Offices 26
Websites 26
News Outlets 26
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Translation Services
Court Reporters
Mailing Lists
Whaling Season
APPENDIX E: ABOUT EACH NATIVE VILLAGE
BARROW
ANAKTUVUK PASS
ATQASUK
KAKTOVIK
NUIQSUT
POINT HOPE
POINT LAY
WAINWRIGHT
APPENDIX F: COMMUNICATION STRATEGY TEMPLATE
Communication Strategy
APPENDIX G: LIST OF PREPARERS
27
27
27
27
28
28
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
38
39
42
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1.0 Introduction
This document is intended to be used by all EPA Region 10 personnel who conduct public
meetings and public hearings, process permits, organize and carry out inspections, or any other
action representing EPA and Region 10 on the North Slope of Alaska. It is the responsibility of
each program to determine specifically how it will implement the Protocol for its work. Some
projects may warrant an intensive, comprehensive communications effort. For others, a more
abbreviated effort may be in the best interest of the agency, the communities, and the project
proponent.
To facilitate using this document it is organized as follows:
It begins with the statement of the Region 10 communications protocol.
Presented next are general principles for successful communications with communities;
these are provided to be used in implementing the Protocol.
A brief description of the North Slope communities follows and provides some of the
context needed to move forward with implementation.
The document concludes with appendices that provide more detail on the North Slope
communities and resources for implementing the Protocol.
The Protocol encourages and assumes that Region 10 program staff will be routinely
communicating with one another and will actively seek guidance and advice from program area
specialists, including the appropriate tribal coordinators, environmental justice coordinator,
community involvement coordinator, and communications staff.
While this document is not intended to cover communities outside of the North Slope, the
principles of communication and community involvement described here are applicable
anywhere. Specific conditions and the steps taken to account for them may vary greatly across
the state of Alaska and will need to be included in any effort to apply the Protocol elsewhere.
The Protocol will be amended, as appropriate, over time, to reflect changes in our responsibilities
and authorities and to capture what we learn as we work to communicate better with our partners
and the communities on the North Slope.
Questions about implementing the protocol or updates to the protocol should be directed to the
Community Involvement Coordinator of the Oil and Gas Sector team.
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2.0 Communication with North Slope Communities
Region 10 Protocol Statement:
Region 10 will:
Maintain and improve our working relationships with communities on the North Slope of
Alaska,
Use communication strategies that take into account the cultural context of the North
Slope communities,
Communicate early both internally and with North Slope communities as soon as Region
10 staff learn of a proposed project or issue.
Implementing the Protocol:
Region 10 will use communication strategies that take into account the cultural context of the
North Slope communities by adapting our communications to the values and practices of those
communities. In this way, Region 10 will practice culturally appropriate communications for
each project related to the North Slope. For each project (or project category) related to the
North Slope, there must be a deliberate consideration of whether there is a need to prepare and
implement a formal communications strategy. If a formal strategy is not deemed necessary, the
Protocol must still be implemented by the program.
Communication with North Slope communities can begin as soon as EPA learns of a project
(perhaps even before an application is received, for example). This requires EPA program staff
to communicate regularly with each other concerning their activities on the North Slope.
Development of a communication strategy can also begin as soon as EPA learns of a project.
Routine and open communication with the communities is an integral part of the entire project
process, beginning at project inception, not from the start of the comment period. The type and
frequency of communication will be in alignment with the expressed needs of the communities.
Region 10 will routinely plan for a 60-day window for public comment opportunity. This does
not mean we will routinely offer 60-day comment periods. Rather, we will set aside a timeframe
of 60 days, to provide for any comment period extension requests, to accommodate any
scheduling changes that might be necessary after consideration of the subsistence year activities
(described Section 5), or changes due to logistical complications, and to build flexibility into our
schedules to account for other unforeseen delays.
Part of conducting meaningful public involvement with communities of the North Slope includes
applying cultural competence. Cultural competence refers to the ability to interact effectively
with people of different cultures. It is the responsibility of each program to determine
specifically how implementation of the Protocol be done for a given project. The Protocol is a
guide to considerations that each staff member will confront and provides a general framework
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within which each program can determine how it will implement the Protocol. A toolbox is
provided later in this document to help staff think through the process of developing an
appropriate communications plan (see Appendix D).
General principles for successful communications
Because communication involves the two-way exchange of information, effective
communication requires an understanding of those with whom you are communicating. With
increased understanding we will have more effective communication and a better working
relationship. By following these principles, you will be taking steps to implement the Protocol.
Do your homework. Contact the tribal coordinator to learn as much as you can about the
community's surroundings, geography, and pertinent history that can have a bearing on the
outcome of your work. Learn about related past issues before beginning work with communities.
At the same time, avoid making assumptions about current needs and perspectives.
Avoid beginning communications and community involvement during whaling season.
This is a critical point. Whaling occurs in both spring and fall for North Slope communities.
Other important subsistence harvesting times must be considered, as well (see Section 5).
Allow more time! Start early. Communication on the North Slope simply takes more time than
in other areas of Region 10. Mail is slower and the internet is generally less reliable.
Community members like to have plenty of time to consider information and consult with each
other. Requests for extensions to comment periods are likely.
Invite the communities to help plan and set up the public involvement process, where
possible. Communicate with communities about their needs, and work with them to schedule
comment periods and meetings and/or hearings.
Give clear, flexible (yet predictable) schedules. Clearly outline the steps, milestones (key
opportunities for public input) and timeframes in our decision-making process.
Be transparent in decision-making. Be clear who is making decisions, how they will be made,
and what information will be considered. Educate people about the legal mandates and
constraints of the agency. Be clear about how community input can influence the decision-
making process. Engage communities in discussions to identify both the type and timing of
information the agency can use and the flexibility associated with both. Provide information to
help communities prepare their comments so that they are effectively communicating with the
Region about our pending actions. Inform communities on opportunities to appeal Agency
decisions with which they may not agree and be clear about the process used to determine the
validity of appeals.
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Communicate early and often. We strive for a working relationship with communities in
which there are no, or very few, surprises. This is accomplished by keeping all parties informed
of how the process is proceeding and making revisions, within the possible range of discretion,
to respond to changing conditions and needs. Striving for no surprises does not mean that there
is no room for disagreement. A working relationship with few surprises allows for the easier
identification of disagreement without the accompanying issues of trust. This also provides the
most time to address those disagreements and seek resolution.
Know who you are talking with.
1) There are limited numbers of people in the villages and there are many roles to be filled.
Roles and leadership are fluid and change from time to time. It is important that you
identify who you are talking with and in what capacity they are talking with you. For
example, is the person speaking as a whaling captain, as an officer in the Alaska Eskimo
Whaling Commission, as the President of the Village for-profit corporation, or as an
elder?
2) Note that the same person may have varied roles in the community; the officer in the for-
profit corporation might be a member of the whaling commission, or an elected member
of the North Slope Borough (NSB) assembly.
In Alaskan communities there are three entities that co-exist and are loosely related, but have
official differences. These are:
1) Borough/municipality/city-this entity is recognized and draws its authority from the
laws of the State of Alaska and its Constitution. This is equivalent to any
city/village/county in the lower 48 states.
2) Native Villagethis entity is a federally recognized tribe and is afforded all of the
considerations that are required of federal agencies; for example formal government-
to-government consultation can take place between EPA and a Native Village.
3) Regional and Village Corporationsthis entity is unique to Alaska and is a for-profit
corporation, created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), whose
shareholders are Alaska Natives. These corporations are the same as any other
corporation and are subject to the laws of commerce with no special standing under
federal law.
It can become confusing to sort out who is representing which interest, but this understanding is
paramount to effectively communicating and being able to respond appropriately to comments.
Ensure the message you sent is received. It goes without saying that communication requires
both transmitting and receiving a message. Do not assume that any communications have
occurred if you have only sent (transmitted) a message. Just because you sent an e-mail does not
mean that your message was received and read. Depending upon the importance of the message,
you may need to follow-up with phone calls until you actually speak with the person to whom
you sent the message to verify receipt. This also allows you to provide any needed clarity or
additional information that the person may need.
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Get meaningful information to people in the communities before beginning a comment
period. Again, mail can be slow! Verify receipt. Again, you may need to follow-up with phone
calls.
Provide general summary information and make details available Keep information at the
appropriate level of complexity, communicated in a culturally appropriate manner. Provide
summaries. At the same time, more complicated details, technical references, and background
information should be made available for those who want them.
Honor basic communication courtesies. Listen. Let people know they have been heard. Close
the feedback loop. Address comments specifically. Say how you will solve issues. Talk with
the Region's tribal coordinator, become aware of culturally appropriate communication
courtesies and apply them.
Value cultural differences. The indigenous people of the North Slope have successfully lived
sustainably in their environment. They have a great accumulation of knowledge and much to
teach and share. They are experts in their own lives in their environment.
Ensure that the material you are sending is likely to be relevant to the receiver. Some
community leaders have noted that they often get so many materials from agencies that they
cannot distinguish those that require their direct or immediate attention. Consequently, it may be
easy to overlook relevant documents which do warrant attention. At the same time, we must
ensure that mailing lists and contact lists are complete and current. Follow up with communities
to ensure that the materials were received and that the recipient is the appropriate contact.
Be inclusive. An inclusive effort is one where decision-making includes information and
perspectives from diverse points of view and experiences. Recognize that there are many
different perspectives within any community. The opinions of a few individuals do not
necessarily represent the views of the wider community.
Provide an EPA e-mail address and a physical address for receiving comments.
As a back-up to hard copy on-site information, work with the Region 10 webteam and
consider establishing a website or other internet component for your project. If developed,
consolidate all available information on the webpage and include contact information. Keep it
up to date. Include both simple summary information and access to more detailed information.
Although internet access is limited, a webpage still needs to be considered as an option for
people to get information. Remember to also provide the information in hard copy form in one
or more central locations within the community.
Evaluate Your Efforts. Along the way, and when your project is concluding, evaluate your
community involvement efforts. Remember to request feedback from the communities about
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what worked, how it worked, what did not work, how it did not work, and what the agency could
do better next time.
Communication Limitations
Internet access is generally limited and expensive, with variable service. Many people do
not have easy, cheap access to internet information. Put all information on the website, but also
provide hard copies at locations in the community.
Telephone service is not always reliable. Additionally, be aware that you may need to call
people multiple times, at different times of day, in order to reach them.
Teleconference capabilities vary and are not always reliable. Equipment is not always
compatible and service can be sporadic. Always test a teleconference system before committing
to having a teleconference. Work directly with the teleconference person in the village/city.
Even with the best of planning you can encounter a failure of the teleconferencing system. Never
rely solely on teleconferencing as your only official public comment collection mechanism, and
always have a contingency plan. Teleconference rooms are available in all of the villages. Do
not publicize the teleconference call-in number or you could have a single telephone problem
take down the entire teleconference. Instead, publicize the village teleconference public meeting
location and encourage people to attend.
Mail can take a very long time. It is a good idea to call ahead to make sure your project
material has arrived at its destination. As noted above, make sure project material is available in
the communities before starting a comment period. Material should be sent to a variety of
locations in the same community.
Some communities do not have libraries or information repositories available for
documents. Sometimes city, tribal, school, and post office buildings are used for these
purposes. Call and find out. While there is no single source of this information, it is often most
efficient to talk with someone in Region 10 who has experience in your area of interest.
Translation may be required. Check in advance with the communities to find out what their
translation preferences are, and make needed arrangements. Local translators may be available.
Simultaneous translation equipment is available for checkout from the Region 10 Public
Environmental Resource Center (PERC). Bring the equipment even if you think you may not
need it.
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3.0 Tribal Consultation
EPA has tribal consultation responsibilities outside of the public participation process. EPA's
tribal consultation process is required and supported by the 1984 EPA Policy for the
Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian reservations (a.k.a. the "Indian Policy"),
Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and the
EPA Region 10 Tribal Consultation Framework.
"Consultation" means the process of seeking, discussing, and considering the views of federally
recognized Tribal governments at the earliest time in EPA Region 10's decision-making.
Consultation generally means more than simply providing information about what the agency is
planning to do and allowing comment. Rather, Region 10's commitment to tribal consultation
means respectful, meaningful, and effective two-way communication that works toward a
consensus reflecting the concerns of the affected federally recognized Tribe(s) before EPA
makes its decision or moves forward with its action. The Region will maintain government-to-
government communications with North Slope federally recognized tribal governments.
Tribal consultation, while a requirement of its own, must be considered a part of the overall
communications Protocol and planned for accordingly. Both the EPA and the Tribe should work
together to arrange tribal consultation. Communication with tribal governments on the North
Slope does not constitute tribal consultation unless it is specifically designated as such.
Contact the North Slope Tribal Coordinator, the Alaska Resource Extraction Tribal Policy
Advisor or the Region 10 Tribal Consultation Specialist and refer to existing regional guidance
on tribal consultation for assistance in developing individual tribal consultation plans. In
addition, some tribes have their own tribal consultation policy; please request this from the tribal
government. Consultation policies developed by affected tribes should be considered when
developing tribal consultation plans and to determine a mutual understanding of what tribal
consultation means to both parties.
Here are websites to help you get started with your research about tribal consultation
requirements:
Executive Order 13175 - Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/eo/eol3175.htm
Region 10 Tribal Consultation Framework and Guiding Principles:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/Programs/Consultation
Tribal Programs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r 10/tribal.NSF/
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4.0 Environmental Justice
Ensuring environmental justice for all people, including vulnerable populations and communities
disproportionately impacted by various governmental and industrial activities, is a national
priority of EPA. EPA's environmental justice practices are required and supported by Executive
Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations. The overarching goal of the Agency is to integrate environmental
justice principles and practices into all the activities of every Program and of Program staff. This
will be achieved, in part, through staff completion of both the introductory and advanced
environmental justice training courses offered in Region 10.
Application of this Protocol should enable you to achieve our environmental justice goal of
ensuring the meaningful involvement of North Slope communities in EPA actions that affect
them. Achieving the environmental justice goals of avoiding and mitigating disproportionate
impacts and ensuring fair and equitable environmental decisions for everyone are the subjects of
extensive guidance and training (see below). However, implementation of this Protocol should
be a big step forward to integrating environmental justice into our program work.
Environmental justice considerations are also an important part of our work on air and water
permits, enforcement and compliance, contaminated sites cleanup, grants review and
management, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project reviews. EPA staff can use
discretion in implementing program policies and guidance to ensure that environmental justice
issues are considered and addressed.
Contact the Region 10 environmental justice program manager and the environmental justice
coordinator in your program office. They can help you identify environmental justice issues at
your project site or activity, including use of environmental justice assessment tools.
Listed below are resources to help you get started with your research about our Environmental
Justice requirements:
Environmental Justice Policies and Guidance:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/ej/index.html
Environmental Justice Contacts in Region 10:
http://yosemite.epa.gOv/r 10/ocrej.nsf/Environmental+Justice/EJ-Contacts
Environmental Justice Training in Region 10:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/Rl 0/ocrei.nsf/environmental+iustice/training
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5.0 About the North Slope
Geography
The North Slope (NS) is located along the northern-most portion of Alaska. It includes eight
distinct communities.
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Community Approximate Population (numbers are changeable}
Point Hope 764
Point Lay 260
Wainwright 556
Barrow 4500
Atqasuk 260
Nuiqsut 416
Kaktovik 286
Anaktuvuk Pass 358
These communities are within a county-level political subdivision called the North Slope
Borough (NSB). The NSB covers a very large geographical area and is comparable in size to the
state of Minnesota. It is located completely above the Arctic Circle. These communities are
remote arctic villages, with no roads between them. Agency access to the villages generally
occurs by bush plane.
Cultural Information
These villages are home to native Inupiat residents. About 69 percent of the residents are all or
part Alaska native. Whaling is central to the culture.
This is a culture with an oral (spoken) and aural (listening) tradition. Inupiaq is spoken and
translation services may be needed in some cases. English is widely spoken, but in many cases it
is a second language.
In this traditional society, elders hold special status, as do whaling captains and their wives.
For more detailed discussion about each native village, see Appendix E.
An Example Subsistence Year
The following, adapted from work done by Molly Pederson of the North Slope Borough, is a
generalized example of activities that take place throughout the year in the subsistence life of the
villagers on the North Slope. This is not a rigid schedule, but is an attempt to put the yearly flow
of work and life of the villagers onto the twelve month calendar that we are all familiar with.
There is variability from time to time and from village to village, which is one reason that, for us
to serve the North Slope communities, it is so important to communicate with the villages to
ascertain what is happening and what is anticipated.
As the example on the following page illustrates, there is no perfect, ideal time to begin a
community involvement effort. The protocol sets out a process for determining the best way to
proceed, working directly with the communities.
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An Example Subsistence Year in the North Slope Borough Area
January
Trapping continues
Seal hunting
Seal skins prepared for bleaching
Polar bear hunting
Build/repair skin boats
February
Trapping continues
Caribou skins drying outside
Seal and ugruk skins also drying/bleaching
Continue build/repair skin boats
July
March
April
May
June
Some polar bear hunting
Seal hunting
Trapping continues for fox, wolf and
wolverine
Women sew ugruk skins for skin boats
New skins put on boat frames
Hunting tools repaired
Female polar bears bring out their young
End of trapping season
Whaling season begins
Caribou and ground squirrel hunting inland
Time to clean cellars if not done during
winter
Birth of young seals
Whaling continues
Geese/ptarmigan hunting inland
Duck hunting on ice
Ice breakup on rivers
Seals on ice at Qaaktugvik
Ugruk have their young
Nalukataq in the whaling communities
(Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Barrow, Am, Point
Hope)
Going off to Summer camps
Fishing on rivers and lakes begins
Seal hunting
Fish in Qaaktugvik
Fish continues
Caribou hunting
Gathering eggs in Pt. Hope
Ugruk and walrus hunting
Drying meat and making seal oil
Preparing ugruk skins for boats
August
Caribou hunting by boats, some by snow
machines
Ugruk and aiviq hunting continues
Ugruk skins prepared for boatslboot bottoms
Duck hunting at Pigniq
Boat frames build
Geese hunting at Wainwright
Tuktaq making time
Fish on rivers
Berry picking inland
September
Panmaksrak coming through
Some duck hunting
Beginning of fall bowhead whale hunt
Moose hunting
Whaling in Kaktovik/Nuiqsut/B arrow
October
Fall whaling continues
Ice fishing on rivers and lakes
Caribou hunting first part of the month
Ice fishing along coastline for cod fish
November
Polar bear hunting on the coastline
Seal hunting
Some hunters still at fish camps
Traditional Thanksgiving Feast
December
Trapping season for fox, wolf, wolverine
Seal hunting
Polar bear hunting
Traditional Christmas Feasts
Traditional games of skill and endurance
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APPENDICES
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Appendix A: Abbreviations
AEWC: Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
ANCSA: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
ANILCA: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
AOO: Alaska Operations Office, in Anchorage
EJ: Environmental Justice
G2G: Government to Government
1C AS: Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
NS: North Slope
NSB: North Slope Borough
NSCP: North Slope Communication Protocol
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Appendix B: North Slope Communication Protocol Guide
Process Guide
The following information is designed to serve as a helpful guide for you, taking you through
some steps for fulfilling requirements of the Protocol. Optional sample worksheets are included
as well.
1. Early Communications
1.1 The public communications process begins as soon as EPA learns of a project
(perhaps even before a permit application is submitted, for example).
1.2 Identify potentially affected and interested parties, including EPA programs.
Make initial contact with all NS communities, as well as ICAS, AEWC, and the NSB, to
determine the level of involvement that each community desires and what type(s) of
communications might be most useful. The intent is to not add work beyond the capacity
of the community; rather, we need to keep from inundating people with non-relevant
notices and requests for their time.
1.3 To be completed by: Program staff person communicates with NS contacts by
telephone.
2. Communications Strategy
2.1 Determine the communications required by the involved program.
2.2 Determine the range of program discretion within which communications can be
conducted. Determine what is required by law or regulation, what is policy, what is
general practice.
2.3 Determine whether a formal communications strategy should be prepared.
The answer will likely be "yes" if regulatory decisions will be made, permits will be
processed, or other formal agency actions will occur.
2.4 Internal: Perform internal review, revision, and obtain appropriate approval of
communications strategy, if written.
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2.5 If no formal communications strategy is deemed necessary, then the Protocol and its
principles of communication should still be followed.
2.6 To be completed by: Program staff person communicates with program manager,
Alaska Operations Office contact, Community Involvement Coordinator, and Tribal
Program contact.
Begin with telephone and email and establish conference meetings as necessary.
3. Community Input
3.1 Inform the North Slope community contacts about how the region plans to
communicate, making sure it is in alignment with the needs of the community.
3.2 Establish the frequency at which communications can be expected; establish a routine
if possible.
3.3 To be completed by: Program staff person by the agreed upon methods.
4. Implementation
4.1 Implement the communications strategy
4.2 To be completed by: Program staff person and Community Involvement Coordinator,
as identified in the communications strategy.
Integrate program requirements with project specific considerations.
Be vigilant to identify potentially changing conditions.
Communicate regularly with AOO staff.
Read local Alaska newspapers.
Keep your project on the minds of those you work with in case they have
information useful to you.
Return telephone calls and e-mail messages, being open to the discovery of
something new.
5. Adaptive Management
5.1 Make a change:
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To the "action process"
EXAMPLE: process halted to acquire new information
To the communications process
EXAMPLE: The publicly noticed 30-day comment period is extended because a
public meeting held at day 15 of the comment period reveals that required agency
documents will not be physically available in the communities for another 2 weeks.
Since the EPA program requires that the public have 30 days access to these
documents prior to the public hearing, the hearing will need to be rescheduled. Thus,
in this case, the hearing is now likely to be at least 44 days from the date of the public
meeting assuming that EPA is able to prepare and publish the necessary public notice
of the rescheduled hearing during the 2 week wait for document arrival.
Example comment period timeline:
1 July -Beginning of 30 day comment period
15 July -Public Meeting held - document problem identified
29 July -Documents in communities
MOST RAPID RESPONSE - LEAST CHANGE IN SCHEDULE:
15 July to 29 July -EPA prepares and publishes Public Notice of rescheduled
Public Hearing for 30 days following 29 July
28 August -Public Hearing can be held
Comment Period could end after the Public Hearing - however, good public
participation practices would allow at least 5 days of comment period after a Public
Hearing
Original comment period = 1 July to 30 July
Revised comment period = 1 July to 2 September
This example demonstrates the importance of planning for at least a 60-day window
for comment periods so that neither the public nor the applicant is misled about the
action schedule.
5.2 Make and communicate the change
As soon as possible talk with all involved parties explaining the situation and the action
that has been taken. This must include communicating with other involved EPA program
offices.
Establish a renewed (revised if necessary) routine and follow it.
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Sample Work Sheets - These are meant to help guide you in your work; do not be limited
by the space available for any component and provide as much detail as is appropriate for your
particular project.
NORTH SLOPE COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL
DATE
PROJECT/ACTIVITY: Location
EPA Program-Primary/Lead Secondary
Region 10 Person - Primary Secondary
Is this project/activity linked to another project/activity past, current, or future Y _N
Name of related project
Nature of linkage
Other Region 10 Program(s) involved
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONTACT at North Slope Borough -
OFFICE
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
CONTACT at City -
OFFICE
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
CONTACT at Tribal Entity -
TRIBAL ENTITY
OFFICE
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
CONTACT at State of Alaska -
OFFICE
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONTACT with Sector(s) -
SECTOR
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
G2G
OFFICE
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
CONTACT with Alaska Operations Office -
OFFICE-PROGRAM
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
OFFICE-TRIBAL LIAISON
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
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PROTOCOL ACTION(S)
TRIBAL Government-to-Government Consultation Notification Sent Y N
Government to Government Letter sent to:
OFFICE ADDRESS
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
G2G Activity - Separate File Created Y N
Person Responsible for G2G
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - Required Y N
Public Comment Period Dates:
Begins:
Ends:
Response to Comments Due:
DOES REGION 10 NEED TO SOLICIT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MORE THAN ONE
PROGRAM, PROJECT, OR ACTIVITY? Y N
If yes, then, describe the coordination taking place and accommodations to limit the demands on
the communities for their engagement on multiple issues:
SUBSISTENCE/CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
When will EPA's action take place?
What subsistence activities occur during this time of year?
What considerations are necessary to accommodate the subsistence/cultural needs of the
residents?
What limitations does Region 10 have to work within?
Has the public comment period been established to best accommodate the limitations of the
region and the needs of the residents? Y N
If not, explain why not:
Who made the decision:
COORDINATION WITH EPA PROGRAMS
OFFICE ADDRESS
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
OFFICE ADDRESS
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
OFFICE ADDRESS
PERSON PHONE NUMBER
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MILEPOSTS - TIMELINE for Project/Activity
1. Region 10 becomes aware of project or activity. DATE:
2. Program has communication with external party regarding the project.
3. Program communicates internally with other programs to provide early notification and
increase Regional awareness.
4. Program provides regular update to North Slope residents [perhaps through monthly
teleconference with ICAS or Village Voice program if either or both are implemented] This is
both informal sharing of information and formal notice of pending work or action.
5. Program receives documents that trigger the beginning of Region 10's official involvement
(ie, permit application). DATE:
6. Coordination within Region 10 formalized.
7. Communications plan developed in collaboration with communities and implemented.
DATE:
8. Continuing interaction with applicant, residents, government agencies, and programs as
Region proceeds with project/activity.
9. Provide close-out update summarizing the project/activity history, the comments received
from residents, and Region 10's responses to those comments.
10. Evaluate your communication efforts and lessons learned.
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22
Appendix C: Travel to the North Slope - What You Need to
Know
Traveling to the North Slope (NS) presents some unique challenges.
Flights are less reliable. For example, planes will not fly in white-out conditions or
temperatures below 45 degrees below zero F. NS flights are limited, as planes may fly in to and
out of certain villages only on certain days of the week, and usually only once per day, requiring
at least an overnight stay. Realize these are small bush planes, with limited seating. Reserve
flights early. Build flexibility into your schedule. Watch the weather forecast for the villages
before you go (www.weather.com is one resource; NOAA's Alaska Regional Office website is
also recommended www.arh.noaa.gov). Make contingency planning a priority.
Airlines which fly to NS communities include Alaska Airlines (only to Barrow), Frontier Flying,
and Bering Air.
Lodging: Arranging lodging in certain NS communities can be a challenge. In Barrow, the
largest community on the NS, there are somewhat limited public accommodations. In other
villages there are even fewer public accommodations. For example, you may need to sleep in the
gym or perhaps on the floor of the community center. To find out, discuss arrangements with the
villages during your early communications.
Getting Around: As with lodging, call to find out how to manage local transportation. There
are no rental cars, and in many cases no taxis.
Dining: Dining options are extremely limited and those that exist may have limited hours. You
may need to bring your own food. Check in advance with your community contacts to find out
what your available options are at that time. Plan ahead, remembering that flights do not have
food and can be long.
Money: There are only two ATMs on the entire NS. Bring plenty of cash and personal checks
as many places cannot process credit or debit cards.
Packing: Plan your packing with layering in mind. Also, it's in your best interest to pack as
lightly as possibleyou have to carry it, sometimes a long way, and in the cold. Consider time
of year, and pack accordingly.
Personal Gear to Bring with You:
sunglasses (in winter, too)
insect repellent
snacks (plenty of them, as certain villages offer few amenities)
casual clothes and tough footwear (no suits and ties)
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sleeping gear depending on your lodging arrangements
clothing with pockets near the body to hold things you do not want to freeze (like eye
drops, lip balm, moisturizer, camera, small flashlight, hand wipes, water bottle, etc.)
sturdy boots (well insulated with no steel toes in winter; insulated mud-boots in summer)
wool socks and pants (wool is better than cotton)
thermal underwear
warm (down) jacket with hood
hat that covers ears, scarf, gloves
flashlight
sleeping mask for eyes (accommodations in the villages do not always have curtains on the
windows to block out the light in the summer)
flip-flops (bathrooms may be communal at some village accommodations)
ear plugs for sleeping (you may be sharing a room with someone who snores)
Note: In winter, put on your warm wear before you exit the plane. The walk into a building
can be a long one if you are not prepared for the cold. The plane can be cold, too!
Agency Equipment and Meeting Supplies
Each trip will have a particular purpose(s). Consequently, it is important that you give early,
thoughtful consideration to the equipment and supplies that you will need to bring so that your
trip is effective and productive. It is not possible to compile a complete list of equipment and
supplies that may be required, but you should consider the fact that there are not office supply
stores in the villages.
Suggestions:
Visual aids (graphics) for your discussion are very valuable - they help to bridge the
cultural and language differences that you will be working with and, if done well, convey a
great deal of information in a small space. Remember that when dealing with different
languages, a table with numbers and words is often meaningless; instead use graphics,
drawings, pictures, maps.
Consider the possible need for a flip chart or white dry erase board. If you are going to be
outdoors, markers freeze and are unusable.
Do you need a projector? Does your location have electricity? Do you need to bring long
extension cords, etc.?
If there will be a formal hearing, bring sign-in sheets, pencils, etc.
Other considerations:
There may be electricity, indoor plumbing, and land-line telephones; however, cell phone and
Wi-Fi coverage is minimal to non-existent. Limited internet service, mostly by dial-up, may be
available. Note that buildings are kept quite warm, usually 75 degrees or more the
temperature differential between inside and outside can be extreme. Layer up! So you can layer
down inside.
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Appendix D: Tool Box
Internal EPA Contacts
The following staff have direct experience working with North Slope (NS) communities and are
available for consultation:
Tribal Coordinator located in AOO working the NS (contact Tribal Program Unit
manager for contact information)
Resource Extraction Tribal Coordinator located in AOO
The following staff have program area specialty experience and are available for consultation:
Community Involvement Coordinator (contact Community Involvement and Public
Information Unit, Seattle)
Environmental Justice Program Manager located in Seattle
The Region 10 Public Environmental Resource Center (PERC) has simultaneous translation
equipment available for checkout, as well as educational materials for use at public meetings.
Community Contacts
The following contacts work with and/or live in NS communities and may be available as a
resource. For a particular project, always contact the office to determine current personnel and
their contact information.
North Slope Borough
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 69
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-0200
Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
(ICAS)
IRA Tribal Organization
Office of the President
P.O. Box 934
Barrow, AK 99723
(907) 852-4227
City of Barrow
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 629
Barrow, AK 99723
(907)852-5211
Native Village of Barrow
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 1130
Barrow, AK 99723
(907)852-4411/4412
City of Anaktuvuk Pass
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 21030
Anaktuvuk Pass, AK 99721
(907)661-3612
Native Village of Anaktuvuk Pass
(Nagsragmiut Tribal Council)
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 21065
Anaktuvuk Pass, AK 99721
(907) 661-2535
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City of Atqasuk
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 91119
Atqasuk, AK 99791
(907)633-6811
Native Village of Atqasuk
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 91108
Atqasuk, AK 99791
(907)633-2575
City ofKaktovik
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 27
Kaktovik, AK 99747
(907)640-6313
Native Village of Kaktovik
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 73
Kaktovik, AK 99747
(907) 640-2042/2043
City of Nuiqsut
Office of the Mayor
PO Box 148
Nuiqsut, AK 99789
(907) 480-6727
Native Village of Nuiqsut
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 89169
Nuiqsut, AK 99789
(907) 480-3010
City of Point Hope
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 169
Point Hope, AK 99766
(907) 368-2537
Native Village of Point Hope
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 109
Point Hope, AK 99766
(907) 368-2330
City of Point Lay
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 59
Point Lay, AK 99759
(907)833-2428
Native Village of Point Lay
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 59
Point Lay, AK 99759
(907)833-2775
City of Wainwright
Office of the Mayor
P.O. Box 9
Wainwright, AK 99782
(907)763-2815
Wainwright Traditional Council
Office of the Tribal Council President
P.O. Box 143
Wainwright, AK 99782
(907) 763-2535
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
Office of the Chairman
P.O. Box 570
Barrow, AK 99723
(907)852-2392
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Post Offices
All current contact information is available through the North Slope Borough website at:
North Slope Borough Information, North Slope Borough Directory
http://www.north-slope.org/departments/mayorsoffice/downloads/NSBDirectory
Websites
Here is a sampling of websites. Note that not all communities or organizations have
websites.
ARLIS, Alaska Resource Library and Information Services ("The mother lode of Alaska
resources information"): www.arlis.org
North Slope Borough: www.north-slope.org
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation: www.arsc.com
Kuukpik Corporation: www.kuukpik.com
City of Barrow: www.cityofbarrow.org
City of Nuiqsut: www.nuiqsutalaska.com
City of Kaktovik: www.kaktovik.com
News Outlets
Here is a list of publications which may be appropriate for running press releases, display
ads, and/or public notices.
Anchorage Daily News: (907) 257-4300
Petroleum News: (907)522-9469
Arctic Sounder: (907)852-2531
Daily News Miner: (907) 459-7548
North Slope News: (907) 852-2611
For Public Service Announcement or to offer interviews:
KBRW Radio: (907) 852-6811
KOTZ Radio (only if western villages may be interested): (907) 442-3434
GCI, the local television station (you may be able to request a scrolling message be placed on
the screen)check locally to get contact information
Ask for your public notices to be posted in post offices, city offices, and village offices.
(Send those notices to multiple locations within the community.)
Note: An informal CB radio network exists among the villages. When there are visitors or
events, it is likely that the local residents will hear about it through this CB system. While it
is not an official means to get information distributed, it could be worthwhile to ask your
community contacts about this option.
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Translation Services
Talk with the community and determine the need for a translator. It is important to respect
the wishes of the community with regard to the selection of a translator; a village may have a
very strong opinion regarding the accuracy or bias of a translator that they have had
experience with in the past. You need to work with the tribal coordinator and the community
to effectively address this need. Simultaneous translation equipment is available for checkout
from the Region 10 Public Environmental Resource Center (PERC).
Court Reporters
Generally check for companies located in Anchorage. It is common practice for the quote to
include the travel costs.
Mailing Lists
Once again, contact the community, the Alaska Operations Office, and the Tribal program
and work together to determine the extent of your mailing list. Appropriate mailing lists are
built on a project-by-project basis. Although other mailing lists may exist in the Region and
may be a useful reference, they are not likely the right mailing list for your project. It is not
acceptable to merely add contacts to that an existing mailing list. We have heard repeatedly
that we (the government) are flooding the people with so much paper that they cannot read it
all, and they cannot easily determine if the notice they received is relevant to them or not.
We need to work to refine our contact lists for each project, rather than using an existing list
and adding to it.
Whaling Season
Call the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission to learn the specifics about the current whaling
season plans. In general, spring season runs from late March through the end of May. Fall
season runs from the beginning of August through the end of September. However, dates
vary, and it is necessary to check. Call the executive director at (907) 852-2303.
As the Example Subsistence Year (see Section 5) demonstrates, however, there is never a
time when there is nothing that needs to be done. It is important to remember that in order to
go whaling, there has to be sufficient other food available, caribou, fish, birds, to sustain the
community and the whalers while they are engaged in whaling. Check with your community
contacts to design a community involvement effort that makes sense given current
subsistence activities.
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28
Appendix E: About Each Native Village
On the following pages, you will find summary background information about each of the
North Slope villages. This information was copied verbatim on April 28, 2008, from the NS
Borough website at www.north-slope.org.
Please note that this information may not be current in every case. Also, because of its
introductory nature, it may not tell the whole story. For example, the hotel referenced in the
Nuiqsut section actually refers to a work camp that is open only at certain times of the year.
Please check all details with your village contact before making any final arrangements.
BARROW
The Community
Barrow is the economic, transportation and administrative center for the North Slope
Borough. Located on the Chukchi Sea coast, Barrow is the northernmost community in the
United States. The community is traditionally known as Ukpeagvik, "place where snowy
owls are hunted." Barrow was incorporated as a first-class city in 1959.
Barrow takes its modern name from Point Barrow, named in 1825 by Captain Beechey of the
Royal Navy for Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty. Beechey was plotting the Arctic
coastline of North America at the time.
An important historical site in the area is the Birnick archaeological site which contains 16
dwelling mounds of a culture believed to have existed from 500-900 AD. The archaeological
findings are considered a key link between the prehistoric cultures of Alaska and Canada.
Another interesting site is the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station in nearby
Browerville. Cape Smythe was built as a whaling station in 1893 and is the oldest frame
building in the Arctic.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the military played an influential role in the area. Construction
of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line and exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve
brought new people to the region. During the same time, the Naval Arctic Research Lab
(NARL) was built near Barrow. Visitors to Barrow will arrive at the Wiley Post-Will Rogers
Memorial Airport. This airport was named to commemorate the famous pilot and the
American humorist who died in an airplane crash just 15 miles south of Barrow in 1935.
Across from the airport sits the Will Rogers and Wiley Post Monument.
Popul ati on/Economy
The largest city in the North Slope Borough, Barrow has 4,429 residents, of which
approximately 61 percent are Ifiupiat Eskimo. Although Barrow is a modern community,
subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling are still very important to the local economy. Many
residents who work full- or part-time continue to hunt and fish for much of their food
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In 2003, approximately one-third of the working population of 1,935 was employed in the
private sector. Only a few work for oil companies at Prudhoe Bay. The borough employs 46
percent of the work force and the NSB School District employs another 19 percent.
Quality of Life
Most Barrow homes are heated by natural gas from nearby gas fields, and have modern water
and sewer systems. Utilities are available through Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative,
a member-owned cooperative, which offers electricity, natural gas and water/sewer services.
Water is also delivered by truck to homes beyond the piped distribution system. The NSB
provides trash pick-up.
As the seat of the North Slope Borough, Barrow is home to many regional health and social
services. These public facilities include: a hospital, senior citizen center, women's shelter,
children & youth services center, library, and job training and assistance center. Public safety
and fire protection are also provided.
The community is served by seven churches, elementary, middle and high schools and a
post-secondary education center, Ilisagvik College. On evenings and weekends, the high
school's swimming pool, weight room and gym are open to the public. Residents also use
Barrow's recreation center, which boasts a gym, racquetball courts, weight room and sauna.
The City operates an inflatable dome for ice skating and hockey in the winter and soccer
during the summer.
Communications in Barrow include phone, mail, a public radio station, Internet capability
and cable TV. The community also has four hotels, eight restaurants, a dry cleaner, fur shop
and a bank. Barrow has a large grocery/merchandise store and three convenience stores.
Barrow bans the sale of alcoholic beverages. Major repair services are available for marine,
auto and aircraft engines. Diesel, propane, marine gas, aviation fuel and all grades of auto gas
are available.
During the summer months, tour operators offer package tours of Barrow and the
surrounding area. Visitors learn about the North Slope's traditional culture at the Inupiat
Heritage Center, where they can also purchase arts and crafts such as baleen boats, etched
baleen, carved ivory, masks, parkas and fur mittens.
Barrow is served by passenger jet service from Anchorage and Fairbanks. Freight arrives by
barge in the summer and air cargo year-round.
For more information contact:
City of Barrow
PO Box 629
Barrow, Alaska 99723
(907)852-5211
cityofbarrow. org
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ANAKTUVUK PASS
The Community
Anaktuvuk Pass is located on a divide between the Anaktuvuk and John Rivers in the central
Brooks Range. The village lies about 250 miles northwest of Fairbanks and about the same
distance southeast of Barrow. Anaktuvuk Pass is one of the most scenic villages on the North
Slope, surrounded by tall mountains and near rivers and lakes. The community is located in
the Gates of the Arctic National Parks and Preserve.
Anaktuvuk Pass, a historic caribou migration route, is the last remaining settlement of the
inland Ifiupiat Eskimo, the Nunamiut. The original nomadic Nunamiut left the Brooks Range
and scattered in the early 1900s, mostly due to the collapse of the caribou population. By the
1940s, several Nunamiut families returned to the area and settled at the broad, treeless
Anaktuvuk Pass, "the place of caribou droppings." The community was incorporated as a
fourth-class city in 1959 and upgraded to a second-class city in 1971.
There is a year-round museum in Anaktuvuk Pass that celebrates the early natural, geological
and cultural history of the area, including the migration of people across the Bering Land
Bridge. The museum also displays Nunamiut clothing, household goods and hunting
implements used around the time of the first contact with Westerners.
Population and Economy
As of 2003, there were 346 people living in Anaktuvuk Pass and a work force of 157. The
Nunamiut make up 88 percent of the population. Anaktuvuk's economy is largely based on
subsistence hunting of caribou, which migrate through the pass in the spring and fall. Fish,
birds and berries are also important subsistence foods.
The private sector employs close to one-quarter of the labor force, the North Slope Borough
employs 39 percent, and the School District employs another 23 percent. Through the
museum, residents sell carvings and the caribou skin masks for which the village is widely
known.
Quality of Life
The North Slope Borough provides Anaktuvuk Pass with public electricity and piped water
and sewer services. The NSB also provides trash pick-up free of charge. A health clinic,
staffed by community health aides, is open during the day and available at all times for
emergencies. Anaktuvuk has a public safety building and a fire station, equipped with a fire
engine and an ambulance.
Public education is provided by the Nunamiut School, with classes from pre-school through
grade 12. Vocational education and adult basic education is also available.
The local village corporation, Nunamiut Corporation, owns a hotel, a grocery and
merchandise store, and also sells propane fuel and gasoline. The sale, possession or
importation of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by law.
30
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Transportation to Anaktuvuk Pass is available via scheduled and chartered flights from
Fairbanks or Barrow. Cargo arrives by air transport. Communications in the village include
phone, mail, public radio and cable television.
For more information contact:
City of Anaktuvuk Pass
PO Box 21030
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska 99721
(907)661-3612
ATQASUK
The Community
Atqasuk is located inland from the Arctic Ocean on the Meade River, about 60 miles
southwest of Barrow. Atqasuk has long been established as a hunting and fishing ground.
Abandoned sod houses, an old cellar and gravesite near the village provide evidence of an
early settlement here.
During World War II, coal was mined in the community and freighted to Barrow. During the
next 10 years, the village existed under the name of Meade River. Although the population
dwindled in the 1960s, former residents from Barrow moved to the community in the 1970s
and re-established the village under the name of Atqasuk. The village was incorporated as a
second-class city in 1982.
Population and Economy
Atqasuk has a population of 250 residents and a work force of 72 as of 2003. Inupiat
Eskimos comprise 91 percent of the population. Atqasuk's economy is largely based on
subsistence caribou hunting and fishing. Fish in the Meade River include grayling, burbot,
salmon and whitefish. Local game includes ptarmigan, ducks and geese. Residents also travel
to the coast to participate in whaling and hunting other marine mammals.
The North Slope Borough employs close to 28 percent of the working population and the
School District employs another 28 percent. Forty-three percent of the labor force works for
the private sector or corporations. Some residents also produce arts and crafts for sale
including masks, mittens, dolls, yo-yos, ulus and parkas.
Quality Of Life
The North Slope Borough provides Atqasuk with public electricity and piped water and
sewer services. The NSB also provides trash pick-up. Atqasuk has a public safety building
and a fire station equipped with a fire engine and an ambulance. A health clinic staffed by
community health aides is open during the day and is available for emergencies around the
clock.
The Meade River School offers public education from pre-school to grade 12 and adult basic
education. Communications include phone, mail, public radio and cable television.
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The village corporation, Atqasuk Corporation, owns a grocery and merchandise store which
sells food, clothing, first-aid supplies, cameras, film and hardware. Propane, gas, diesel and
motor oil are also available. Atqasuk bans the sale and importation of alcoholic beverages.
A scheduled airline and air taxi service from Barrow provides passenger and cargo service to
Atqasuk.
For more information contact:
City of Atqasuk
P.O. Box 91119
Atqasuk, AK 99791
(907)633-6811
KAKTOVIK
The Community
Kaktovik is 90 miles west of the Canadian border and 280 miles southeast of Barrow. The
village is on the northern shore of Barter Island and the edge of the 20-million-acre Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge. The ruins of old Kaktovik can be seen from the road linking the
village to the airport. The community incorporated as a second class city in 1971.
Population and Economy
In 2003, there were 286 residents in Kaktovik and a labor force of 98. Eighty-eight percent of
residents are Inupiat Eskimo. Thirty-two percent of the working residents are employed by
the North Slope Borough, and another 25 percent work for the School District. Thirty-seven
percent of the work force is employed in the private sector, primarily by Native corporations
and their affiliates. Like other communities in the region, subsistence hunting, fishing and
whaling play a major role in the local economy. Hunting in the nearby area is for Ball sheep,
moose, caribou, and fox. The community also produces arts and crafts for sale such as etched
baleen, carved ivory and masks.
The community also produces arts and crafts for sale such as etched baleen, carved ivory and
masks. About one in every five household heads in Kaktovik receives monies from craft
income.
Quality of Life
The Borough provides Kaktovik with public electricity and delivers piped water and sewer
services. The NSB also provides trash pick-up.
The Harold Kaveolook School offers education from pre-school through grade 12 and adult
basic education. Communications include phones, mail, public radio and cable TV.
A health clinic, staffed by community health aides, is open during the day and available
around the clock for emergencies. Kaktovik has a public safety building and a fire station
equipped with fire engines and an ambulance.
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The Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation operates a hotel and runs the local store, which provides
groceries, clothing, first-aid supplies, hardware, camera film and sporting goods. Fishing and
hunting licenses and guide services are available in the community. Available fuel includes
marine gas, diesel, propane, unleaded and regular. There are repair services for autos and
aircrafts, and charter aircraft service is available.
Transportation to the village is provided by scheduled airlines and air taxi service from
Barrow and Fairbanks. Freight arrives by cargo plane and barge. Kaktovik is a "dry" village
in which the sale and possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
For more information contact:
City of Kaktovik
PO Box 27
Kaktovik, AK 99747
(907)640-6313
NUIQSUT
The Community
Nuiqsut is located about 18 miles south of the Colville River headwaters at the Beaufort Sea,
and 135 miles southeast of Barrow. The Colville River Delta has traditionally been a
gathering and trading place for the Inupiat, and a good source for hunting and fishing. After
27 Barrow families moved overland to the area, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
funded construction of the village in 1974. The new residents lived in a tent city for 18
months before permanent housing could be built. Nuiqsut was incorporated as a second class
city in 1975.
Population and Economy
In 2003, there were 416 residents in Nuiqsut and a labor force of 169. Approximately 92
percent of residents are Inupiat Eskimo. Like all North Slope villages, Nuiqsut's economy is
based primarily on subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling. Nearby subsistence species
include bowhead whales, caribou, seals, moose and waterfowl; fish include whitefish, burbot,
arctic char and grayling.
More than 55 percent of the work force is employed in the private sector, mostly by the
Kuukpik village corporation and the construction industry. The North Slope Borough
employs 30 percent of the local labor force and the School District employs another nine
percent.
Some residents sell local arts and crafts, including skin masks and boats, fur mittens, parkas
and carved ivory.
Quality of Life
The borough provides public electricity and water/wastewater services. Trash pick-up is also
provided by the borough.
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Trapper School holds classes from pre-school to grade 12 and offers adult basic education. A
health clinic, staffed by community health aides, is open each day and is available 24 hours a
day for emergencies. Nuiqsut has a public safety building and fire station equipped with a
fire engine and an ambulance. Communications include phones, mail, public radio and cable
TV.
Kuukpik Corporation operates a local hotel. Supplies available in town include groceries,
clothing, first-aid supplies, hardware, camera film and sporting goods. Available fuel
includes marine gas, diesel, propane, white gas kerosene and regular gasoline. The City of
Nuiqsut bans the possession, sale and importation of alcoholic beverages.
Residents and visitors enjoy such activities as snowmobile rides, bingo and activities at the
Kisik Community Center. Traditional dances are performed on the Fourth of July and at
other celebrations. The community is served by a Presbyterian Church. Nuiqsut also has a
softball field.
Nuiqsut is served by scheduled and chartered flights from Barrow. Freight arrives year-round
by air cargo.
Nuiqsut residents have access to the Dalton Highway four months of the year. It is Alaska's
northernmost town with road access.
For more information contact:
City of Nuiqsut
PO Box 148
Nuiqsut, AK 99789
(907) 480-6727
POINT HOPE
The Community
Point Hope is located near the end of a triangular spit jutting 15 miles into the Chukchi Sea
250 miles southwest of Barrow. This peninsula is one of the longest continually inhabited
areas in North America. Some of the earliest residents came here for bowhead whaling some
2,000 years ago after crossing the Siberian land bridge.
Visitors to the area can see the remains of Old Tigara Village, a prehistoric site with the
remains of sod houses. There is an even earlier site with about 800 house pits known as
Ipiutak, occupied from about 500 BC to 100 AD. Ipiutak and the surrounding archaeological
district are on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the prehistoric village
sites, there are old burial grounds in the area including a cemetery marked by large whale
bones standing on end.
Point Hope was incorporated in 1966 and six years later became a second-class city. Erosion
and a threat of storm flooding from the Chukchi Sea led to its relocation to higher ground in
the mid-1970s
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Population and Economy
Point Hope is the second largest city on the North Slope with a population of 764 and a labor
force of 293. As of 2003, Inupiat Eskimos make up 91 percent of Point Hope's population.
The local economy is largely based on subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling. The
Borough employs more than 18 percent of the working population and the school district
employs 26 percent. Close to forty percent of the labor force works in the private sector.
Residents produce a wide array of arts and crafts for sale including carved ivory, baleen
baskets, whale bone, masks, caribou skin masks, etched baleen, Eskimo parkas, ivory-tipped
harpoons and bird spears.
Quality of Life
The North Slope Borough provides public electricity and piped water/sewer services, as well
as trash pick-up. A health clinic, staffed by community health aides, is open each day and is
available at all times for emergencies. Other public facilities include the city hall, public
safety building, fire station, senior citizen center and day care center.
Tikigaq School provides education from pre-school to grade 12 and offers adult basic
education classes. Communications in town include phones, mail, public radio and cable TV.
Tikigaq Corporation, Point Hope's village corporation, runs the Native store and sells
groceries, clothing, first-aid supplies, hardware, camera film and sporting goods. City law
prohibits the sale or possession of alcohol. Fuel in town includes marine gas, diesel, propane,
unleaded, regular and supreme.
The community comes together to celebrate the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and
Nalukataq, the feast at the end of a successful whaling season. Other activities include
boating, wildlife viewing and bingo. Churches in the community include an Episcopal
Church, Assembly of God and Church of Christ.
Point Hope is served by scheduled and chartered flights from Barrow and Kotzebue.
For more information contact:
City of Point Hope
PO Box 169
Point Hope, AK 99766
(907) 368-2537
POINT LAY
The Community
Perched on the Chukchi Sea coast 150 miles southwest of Barrow, Point Lay is protected
from the open ocean by the Kasugaluk Lagoon. The Eskimo name for the village is Kali,
which means "mound" and refers to the elevated ground on which it stands. It is probably the
last remaining village of the Kuukpaagruk people. The deeply indented shoreline prevented
effective bowhead whaling and the village never fully participated in the whaling culture.
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The village's traditional hunt of the beluga whales is similar to the bowhead whaling culture
in other North Slope villages. .
Point Lay is incorporated as a Native village by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under the Indian
Reorganization Act. The village is not incorporated under state law as a municipality.
Population and Economy
Point Lay had a population of 260 residents in 2003, with a work force of 98. Eighty-six
percent of residents are Inupiat Eskimo. Point Lay's economy is primarily based on
subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling. The North Slope Borough employs 29 percent of
the labor force and the School District employs another 34 percent. Twenty-nine percent of
workers are in the private sector, mostly for the village and regional Native corporations.
Quality of Life
As in other villages, the North Slope Borough provides public electricity and piped
water/wastewater services. Trash pick-up is also provided by the borough.
A health clinic, staffed by community health aides, is open daily and is accessible for
emergencies around the clock. Other public facilities include a cultural center, construction
camp, and a fire station equipped with a fire engine and an ambulance. Point Lay's Cully
School provides education from pre-school through grade 12, as well as adult basic
education.
The Native Village of Point Lay owns the local store, which sells groceries and clothing.
Available fuel in town includes propane, diesel and regular gasoline. Point Lay bans the sale,
possession and importation of alcoholic beverages.
Passenger service to Point Lay is available by scheduled airline flights and charters from
Barrow. Freight is delivered by air and barge. Communications in the village include phones,
mail, public radio and cable TV.
For recreation, residents enjoy snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and trapping.
For more information contact:
Native Village of Point Lay
P.O. Box 59
Point Lay, Alaska 99759
(907)833-2428
WAINWRIGHT
The Community
Wainwright sits on a wave-eroded coastal bluff of a narrow peninsula which separates
Wainwright Inlet from the Chukchi Sea. Wainwright is about 70 miles southwest of Barrow.
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The inlet was named in 1826 by Captain F.W. Beechey for his officer, Lt. John Wainwright.
The present village was established in 1904 when the Alaska Native Service built a school
there. The community was incorporated as a second-class city in 1962.
Population and Economy
Wainwright is the third largest village in the North Slope Borough, and in 2003 had a
population of 556 and work force of 221. Ninety-four percent of the residents are Inupiat
Eskimo. Wainwright has a larger private sector than most villages: 38 percent of the work
force is employed by private businesses, primarily the village and regional corporations. The
Borough employs 30 percent of the work force and the School District provides jobs for
another 25 percent.
Wainwright's subsistence hunting revolves primarily around whales and caribou. Local arts
and crafts include carved ivory figurines and jewelry, baleen boats, whale bone carvings,
clocks, knitted caps and gloves.
Quality Of life
The North Slope Borough delivers electricity and piped water/wastewater services, and hauls
residential trash.
A health clinic, staffed by community health aides, is open daily and handles emergencies
around the clock. Other public facilities include the public safety office, fire station, vehicle
maintenance facility and teacher housing.
Wainwright's children attend Alak School from pre-school to grade 12. The community also
offers adult basic education and vocational education. The school has a swimming pool and
gymnasium which are also used by the public.
Olgoonik Corporation, Wainwright's village corporation, sells groceries, clothing, first-aid
supplies, hardware, camera film and sporting goods through the community store. Fuel in
town includes marine gas, diesel, propane, unleaded, regular and supreme. City law prohibits
the possession, sale or importation of alcohol.
Visitors to Wainwright will find a hotel, restaurant and several recreational activities. In the
spring, the community gathers for Nalukataq, the feast after a successful whaling season. At
this and other occasions, Eskimo dances are performed by the villagers. Recreational
activities include boating, snowmobiling and smelt fishing in the spring.
Wainwright is served by scheduled and chartered air service from Barrow. Freight arrives by
cargo plane and barge. Communications include phones, mail, public radio and cable TV.
For more information contact:
City of Wainwright
PO Box 9
Wainwright, AK 99782
(907)763-2815
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38
Appendix F: Communication Strategy Template
On the following page is a communication strategy template which can be used for EPA
projects affecting the North Slope. This template is provided as a reference and general
guide.
Each communication strategy will be different, because each will be tailored to the project at
hand, factoring in the expressed needs of the local communities.
Not all projects may warrant preparation of a formal communication strategy. It is the
responsibility of the program to prepare a communication strategy. If assistance is required,
contact the Community Involvement and Public Information Unit.
When preparing a communication strategy, it will be helpful to review the section called
"Implementing the Protocol" presented earlier in this document.
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Communication Strategy
For EPA action/activity which may affect the communities of the North Slope of Alaska
Prepared By:
Team Members (Name, Role, Contact Information):
Prepared: Last Updated:
Action:
Visibility: High Medium Low
Background on action and issues:
Estimated Project Time Table with Milestones: (Coordinate in advance with
communities to determine when public involvement activities should occur, given local
subsistence schedules; remember to allow a 60 day window to solicit and receive public
comments, even if you set a 30-day comment period, to accommodate any delays.)
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Are other EPA projects taking place related to the North Slope or your specific project
during this time? Yes No (If yes, describe, and explain how coordination is
taking place.)
Communication Goals:
Key Messages: (The 2 to 4 primary points you want people to remember. State in bullets or
sound-bites.)
Name, Affiliation, Phone, Email, Who Calls, When-
Note How You Will Establish and Maintain Contact with North Slope Communities:
Audiences/Interested Groups:
D Local Officials
D Other North Slope Community Contacts
D Environmental Groups
D Industry Groups
D Media (work with EPA Press Officer)
D Congress!onals/Governor's Office (work with EPA Congressional Liaison)
D State Agencies
D Federal Agencies
D Others: List
Anticipated Reactions:
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Recommended Outreach Activities (check those that apply):
D News Release or Other Media Activity (work with Press Officer)
D Congressional Work (work with Congressional Liaison)
D Telephone Notifications (e.g. community contacts, state and local officials,
permittee, other key stakeholders, etc)
D Fact Sheet
D Public Comment Period (allow 60-day timeframe even if 30-day comment period)
D Formal Public Hearings
D Public Meetings
D Public Site Tour
D Workshops
D Postings in Community Locations
D Display Ads in Papers
D Documents to Information Repository
D Creation of a Tailored Mailing List
D Check-in with Community on Translation Needs
D Use of Local Informal CB Network
D EPA Letter
D Internal Talking Points Paper
D Webpage Creation and/or Maintenance
D Brochure
D Other
Note Environmental Justice Considerations Here:
Note Government-to-Government Consultation Considerations Here:
Other Important Considerations:
Lessons Learned:
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Appendix G: List of Preparers
This Protocol document was prepared by the NSCP team, with input from representatives
and residents of North Slope communities and EPA Region 10 programs.
Members of the EPA team include:
Ted Rockwell, Team Leader, Senior Advisor, Oil & Gas Sector, Anchorage
Cathy Villa, Alaska Tribal Coordinator, Anchorage
Running Grass, Environmental Justice Program Manager, Seattle
Andrea Lindsay, Community Involvement Coordinator, Seattle
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