HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2017-013 Sponsored by: Casagranda and Slater
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2017-013
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, OPPOSING SITING AND TIMING OF U.S. NAVY TRAINING
EXERCISES THAT POSE RISKS TO FISH AND FISHERIES IN THE GULF
OF ALASKA
WHEREAS,the City of Seward is the governing body with the full power and authority as
recognized by the citizens of Seward, to act for its members, and has responsibility to provide
government for the good health and welfare of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Navy plans to conduct training activities utilizing explosives, live
ordnance, and sonar in the Gulf of Alaska in 2017 that will have impacts on marine life and habitat
vital to the interests of the City of Seward and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, these trainings will impact the waters of the Gulf of Alaska by annually
releasing up to approximately 352,000 pounds of expended materials including up to 10,500 pounds
of hazardous materials including cyanide, chromium, lead, tungsten, nickel, cadmium, barium
chromate, chlorides, phosphorus, titanium compounds, lead oxide, potassium perchlorate, lead
chromate, ammonium perchlorate, fulminate of mercury, and lead azide into waters designated by
NOAA as Essential Fish Habitat for a multitude of species that support the economic development in
Alaskan coastal communities and harvest of wild Alaskan salmon and other fish for global markets;
and
WHEREAS,the training area and vicinity is a highly productive region for many marine fish
and shellfish populations and supports some of the most productive fisheries in the United States,
and an important spawning area for many fishes, and the training is scheduled to take place during
the summer season when many fish populations are migrating and spawning (at least 383 species
belonging to 84 families of marine and anadromous fishes have been reported from the predominant
ecosystems found in the training area); and
WHEREAS,the port of Seward is reliant on the fish and wildlife resources in the Gulf of
Alaska for their subsistence harvest and the livelihoods supported by commercial fishing; and
WHEREAS,the City of Seward supports all cultural,traditional and subsistence activities
historically and continually practiced by Native and non-Native peoples in the Gulf of Alaska;and
WHEREAS,the City of Seward finds limited scientific information or traditional knowledge
demonstrating that the U.S. Navy's training activities can take place without negatively affecting
salmon, marine mammal, bird and other marine habitats.
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2017-013
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA,that:
Section 1.The City Council of the City of Seward,Alaska does hereby request that the U.S.
Navy refrain from using live ordnance or sonar in any Marine Protected Area, including NOAA
Fisheries Marine Protected Areas, State Marine Protected Areas and Habitat Areas of Particular
Concern:
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska hereby requests that the U.S.
Navy relocate its training area to the far southeast corner of the current designated training area,off
the Continental Shelf areas of the Gulf of Alaska, and away from seamounts.
Section 3. The City Council of the City of Seward,Alaska supports a well-trained U.S.Navy
any requests the U.S.Navy to conduct its training exercises after the middle of September and before
the Spring, so as not to impact migrating salmon and other species.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 13th day of
March, 2017.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
J an Bardarson, Mayor
AYES: Slater, Casagranda
NOES: Keil, McClure, Squires, Bardarson
ABSENT: Altermatt
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
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J.hanna Kinney,CMC
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