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Draft results available for first year of Alaska Deep-Draft Arctic Port System study

Draft results available for first year of Alaska Deep-Draft Arctic Port System study

ANCHORAGE - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Alaska District and Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities partnered to study locations for an enhanced Alaska Deep-Draft Arctic Port System. Draft results of the first year of the study are now available.

The Corps and the state established the foundation for this study in 2008 and 2010, and built on the good work of others, such as the Northern Waters Task Force, the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment and workshops with the Institute of the North. This study could help guide deep-draft marine infrastructure development in the Arctic.

Recommended in this report is an initial feasibility-level study of the Nome/Port Clarence region to support vessel traffic and economic development in the Arctic. All 14 candidate sites noted in the study could benefit from enhanced marine infrastructure. Though Nome/Port Clarence will be the focus of this study going forward, additional sites could be evaluated independently or as funding becomes available.

To access the study, visit http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Library/ReportsandStudies/AlaskaRegionalPortsStudy.aspx .

Comments are welcome and can be submitted through the Alaska Regional Ports email address at AKRegPorts@usace.army.mil . The comment period for this draft ends Feb. 28, 2013.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers press release

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