The NewsRoom
Release: #3896
Date: October 8, 2008

Minerals Management Service to Study

Subsistence Activities in the North Aleutian Basin

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has signed a three-year, $340,000 contract with Idaho State University to study the subsistence harvest and sharing activities in communities along Alaska’s North Aleutian Basin.

 “Understanding subsistence activities along the North Aleutian Basin is important for us as we evaluate a possible oil and gas lease sale offshore,” said MMS Director Randall Luthi. “We are committed to working with local communities to find ways on how exploration and development are compatible with subsistence activities and protection of the environment.”

Researchers will investigate the vulnerabilities and the resilience of community subsistence activities to determine if there would be potential impact by offshore energy development activities. Information from the study will be used to evaluate potential mitigation measures and stipulations.

The study will provide MMS with detailed descriptions of the types and amounts of food resources currently harvested and distributed within the communities and an analysis of the data that identifies sectors of the distribution network that could be vulnerable to disruption from industrial development.

An oil and gas lease sale in the North Aleutian Basin is proposed for 2011 in the MMS 2007‑2012 Outer Continental Shelf Five Year leasing program.

Relevant Website:
   North Aleutian Basin Lease Sale 214