NEW DIPLOMAT FOR THE HIGH ARCTIC

EDITOR'S NOTE: No conferences of sufficient consequence to gain general media notice on the Arctic have appeared since January , 2014. Arctic issues continue to appear to be back burnered in D.C. on 11/11/2014. The perspective might be different in Barrow, Alaska, but down here in the lower 48 the Arctic hasn't drawn much ink of late. We reported no change in our perspective during the workweek of February of 2015. Nor do we see any in the trade journals and other sources we monitor today 4/12/2015. If anyone has any news of real U.S. governmental action relative to the High Arctic please leave a comment in the comment sections.

FORMER COAST GUARD COMMANDANT COMMISSIONED SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ARCTIC ISSUES

Admiral Robert J. Papp, Official USCG Photo

Retired former Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Robert J. Papp has been named a special U.S. State Department representative for Arctic issues. He will be advising the administration on policy in the High Arctic which is rapidly becoming a focus of economic opportunities and Russian territorial expansion, as well as unsettled though less strident territorial issues between the various nations encircling the Arctic ocean. He will probably lead delegations representing the United States at the various conferences on Arctic issues. Retired from the Coast Guard only a couple of months ago, Admiral Papp has had a long standing interest in Arctic issues and experience in the difficulties involved in maintaining a continuous Coast Guard presence there. His task is to advance U.S. interests in the region. Next year the rotating Chair of the Arctic Council made up of eight nations that encircle the Arctic ocean falls to the U.S. and will probably be led by Admiral Papp. The United States has more than a thousand miles of Arctic coast line in Alaska and the state's two Senators have been urging the Administration to name a permanent and expert special envoy for the region.

The high Arctic is believed to hold 13% of the world's undiscovered oil reserves, and up to 30 % of of the undiscovered gas deposits, as well as important fisheries. Secretary Kerry also named Fran Ulmer as a special advisor on Arctic Science and policy. Ulmer is a former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska and once chaired the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.