North Slope Borough Comprehensive Plan August 25, 1993 Return comments to: Kirk Wickersham Attorney at Law Planning Consultant 3111 C Street, Suite 200 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Draft North Slope Borough Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents CHAPTER\. BOUNDARlliSANDLANDSTATUS 1.1 Introduction 1 \.2 Land Use 2 1.3 Land Status 2 1.4 Land Management Programs 3 1.4.1 Federal management 3 1.4.2 State Management 6 1.4.3 Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Management 7 1.4.4 North Slope Borough Management 7 1.5 References 8 CHAPTER 2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Water Resources 10 2.2.1 Surface Water 11 2.2.2 Distribution of Runoff 12 2.2.3 Water Quality 12 2.2.4 Sediment 13 2.2.5 Groundwater and Pennafrost 14 2.2.6 Domestic Consumption 15 2.2.7 Industrial Areas (Prudhoe Bay) 16 2.2.8 Water Related Development Issues 16 2.3 Air Quality 16 2.3.1 Nitrogen Oxides 17 2.3.2 Sulphur Dioxide 17 2.3.3 Ozone 17 2.3.4 Carbon Monoxide 18 2.3.5 Hydrocarbons 18 2.3.6 Total Suspended Particulates 18 2.4 Noise Analysis 19 2.5 Other Pollutants 19 2.6 Beach Erosion 20 2.7 Offshore Environmental Hazards 20 2.7.1 Sea Ice IInpacts 21 2.7.2 Wave Erosion 21 2.8 Onshore Environmental Hazards 22 2.8.1 Flooding : 22 2.8.2 Pennafrost 22 2.8.3 High Winds 22 2.8.4 Subsea Pennafrost 22 2.8.5 Seismic Activity 22 2.8.6 Soil Erosion 23 2.8.7 Topographic Hazards 23 2.9 References 24 CHAPTER 3. SUBSISTENCE AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 3.1 Introduction 31 3.2 Subsistence 31 3.2.1 Impacting Factors 33 3.3 Subsistence Resources 33 3.3.1 Large Terrestrial Mammals 33 3.3.2 Small Furbearing Mammals 34 3.3.3 Marine Mammals 34 3.3.4 Birds 35 3.3.5 Bird Eggs - Mannich 35 3.3.6 Invertebrates 36 3.3.7 Fish 36 3.3.8 Berries 37 3.3.9 Greens and Roots 37 3.3.10 Forest Vegetation 37 3.4 Distribution and Special Habitat 38 3.4.1 Large Terrestrial Mammals 38 3.4.2 Furbearers 41 3.4.3 Marine Manunals 42 3.4.4 Freshwaler Fisheries 45 3.4.5 Birds 47 3.4.6 Threatened and Endangered Plants 50 3.5 References 51 CHAPTER 4. INUPIAT mSTORY AND CULTURE 4.1 Introduction 63 4.2 Pre-Contact and History 63 4.3 Cultural and Archaeological Resources 70 4.4 Threats to Cultural Resources 72 4.5 The Commission on I_upiat History, Language and Culture 74 4.6 References 76 CHAPTER 5. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 EmpIoymenUincome 88 5.2.1 Expansion of the Labor Force 90 5.2.2 CupiatINon-Cupiat Employment 90 5.3 Cost of Living 91 5.4 Housing 92 5.5 Economic Development 93 5.6 Communications 94 5.7 Tourism 97 5.7.1 Packaged Tours 97 5.7.2 Outdoor lourist activities 98 5.7.3 Sport Hunting and Fishing 100 5.7.4 Winter Activities 101 5.7.5 Other Activilies 102 5.7.6 Haul RoadConidor 102 5.8 Health 101 5:8.1 Recent Improvements in Native Health 103 5.8.2 Control of Infectious Disease 103 5.8.3 Sexually Transmitted Diseases 104 5.8.4 Adolescent Pregnancy 104 5.8.5 Alcoholism and Alcohol-Related Injuries 105 5.8.6 Causes of Death in the Borough 105 5.8.7 Infant Mortality 106 5.8.8 Causes of Hospitalization 106 5.8.9 Outpatient Treatment 105 5.8.10 Other Health Concerns 105 5.9 Recreation 106 5.10 References __ 107 CHAPTER 6. TRANSPORTATION 6.1 Introduction III 6.2 Air Transportation 111 6.3 Land Transportation 112 6.3.1 Community Transportation 112 6.3.2 Prudhoe BaylDeadhorse 113 6.3.3 Haul Road 114 6.3.4 Traditional and Off-Road Routes 115 6.3.5 Gates of the Arctic 115 6.3.6 Oil Pipelines 116 6.3.7 Constraints of Seasonal Land and Snow Availability 116 6.4 Water Transportation 116 6.4.1 Ice Breaking Tankers 117 6.4.2 Petroleum Development 117 6.5 References 119 CHAPTER 7. OIL, GAS AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT 7.1 Introduction 121 7.2 Petroleum Development 122 7.2.1 History of Petroleum Development 122 7.2.2 Exploration 123 7.2.3 Production 125 7.2.4 Infrastructure And Logistics 126 7.2.5 Environmental Impacts 126 7.2.6 Construction 138 7.2.7 Off-Road Travel And Marine Transportation 140 7.2.8 Oil Drilling 141 7.2.9 Rehabilitation And Cleanup 141 7.2.10 North Slope Oil Production 132 7.2.11 Federal Leasing Programs 135 7.2.12 State Leasing Program 137 7.3 Natural Gas 149 7.4 Coal 137 7.5 Sand and Gravel 152 7.6 Other Minerals 154 7.7 Facility Siting 140 7.8 References : 141 CHAPTER 8. GOVERNMENT 8.1 Introduction 159 8.2 Finances 160 8.2.1 Revenue 160 8.2.2 Revenue Forecasts 161 8.2.3 Operating Budget 162 8.2.4 Capital Improvements Program 163 8.3 Borough Government Services 167 8.3.1 Department of Administration and Finance 168 8.3.2 ClPM Department 168 8.3.3 Department of Planning and Community Services 168 8.3.4 Departmcntof Municipal Services 169 8.3.5 Department of Industrial Development 170 8.3.6 Departments of Public Safety, Fire and Search & Rescue 171 8.3.7 Department of Heallh and Social Services 171 8.4 Education 172 8.4.1 North Slope Borough School District 172 8.4.2 Arctic Sivunmum llisagvik College 174 8.5 Barrow Water and Sewer 174 8.6 Municipal Recreation Powers 156 8.7 Hospital 175 8.8 Housing 176 8.9 Governmental Cooperation - Private Development 176 8.10 Intergovernmental Coordination 176 8.11 References 176 CHAPTER 9. COMMUNITIES 9.1 Anaktuvuk Pass 179 9.1.1 History 179 9.1.2 Subsistence 180 9.1.3 Social Characteristics 181 9.1.4 Existing Public Facilities 181 9.1.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 182 9.1.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 182 9.2 Atqasuk 182 9.2.1 History 182 9.2.2 Subsistence 184 9.2.3 Social Characteristics 185 9.2.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 186 9.2.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 186 9.2.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 187 9.3 Barrow 187 9.3.1 History 187 9.3.2 Subsistence 189 9.3.3 Social Characteristics 192 9.3.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 193 9.3.5 Ongoing Capital Improvement Projects 194 9.3.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 194 9.3 KaklOvik195 9.3.1 History 195 9.3.2 Subsistence 196 9.3.3 Social Characteristics 199 9.3.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 199 9.3.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 200 9.3.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 200 9.4 Nuiqsut 200 9.4.1 History 200 9.4.2 Subsistence 201 9.4.3 Social Characteristics 203 9.4.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 204 9.4.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 204 9.4.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 204 9.5 Point Hope 205 9.5.1 History 205 9.5.2 Subsistence 207 9.5.3 Social Characterisitics 210 9.5.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 211 9.5.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 211 9.5.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 212 9.6 Pl. Lay 212 9.6.1 History 212 9.6.2 Subsistence 214 9.6.3 Social Characteristics 216 9.6.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 217 9.6.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 217 9.6.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 218 9.7 Wainv.rright 218 9.7.1 History 218 9.7.2 Subsistence 221 9.7.3 Social Characteristics 223 9.7.4 Existing North Slope Borough Public Facilities 223 9.7.5 Capital Improvement Projects in Progress 224 9.7.6 Future Capital Improvement Projects 224 INTRODUCTION TO THE 1993 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN "I want you to stop offshore oil exploration which keeps us from taking bowhead whales. We want to be able to develop oil onshore and on OUf own lands in ANWR." Jacob Adams, NSB Assembly Member "That is exactly the opposite of current federal policy." Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior. August 1993. The Borough has had a Comprehensive Plan and Land Management Regulations since late 1982. The three volumes which comprise the 1993 Comprehensive Plan build upon that work Clod provide updated data and policy. The purpose of a comprehensive plan to provide for the orderly development of the Borough and to promote the health, safety and welfare of its residents. This Comprehensive Plan, as the 1982 Comprehensive Plan, accomplishes that by identifying and discussing the impacts of development, both good and bad. Its aim is to gain for the Borough and its residents as many of the good impacts as possible and avoid or eliminate as many of the bad impacts as possible. What a "good" impact is and what a "bad" impact is varies from community to community all across the world. Within each community what is good and what is bad will vary from one area to the next and with the passage of time.