Project Summary

Polar Bear Plan and Training Video

1. Project Identification

Name Polar Bear Plan and Training Video

Region Alaska

State Alaska

Location The following radar sites on the Alaska North Slope and North Coastal Areas: Barter Island, Bullen Point, Oliktok, Lonely, Point Barrow, Wainwright, Point Lay, Cape Lisburne, Kotzebue, and Tin City

Date of this update March 5, 1998

Name	Polar Bear Plan and Training Video
Region	Alaska
State	Alaska
Location	The following radar sites on the Alaska North Slope and North Coastal Areas: Barter Island, Bullen Point, Oliktok, Lonely, Point Barrow, Wainwright, Point Lay, Cape Lisburne, Kotzebue, and Tin City
Date of this update	March 5, 1998

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection

Wetlands

River systems

Beaches/Dunes

Offshore areas

Mangroves

Assisting Species at Risk Polar Bear

Pollution Mitigation

Non-Point Source Pollution

Other (describe) Polar bears are the most unpredictable and dangerous of all North American bears. Provide information to better understand and manage a species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Beaches and onshore radar sites and villages are the habitat used by polar bears when they are not offshore. Polar bears attack humans. In 1991 a resident of the village of Point Lay was killed while walking through the Point Lay Long Range Radar Site (LRRS). In 1993 an Air Force contractor employee was critically wounded when a polar bear pushed its way into the Oliktok LRRS.

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

Develop a polar bear interaction plan and a safety training video to reduce the possibility of human and bear losses.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list)

Research structures and recommend modification to facilities to reduce interactions. Minimize the attraction of the radar sites by disposing of garbage properly. Maximize lighting for detection and deterrence. Properly store, dispose of materials that may be toxic to polar bears. Research climate resistant trip-wire detection systems to warn personnel of danger. The safety training video shall outline precautions to minimize encounters with polar bears and educate the viewer on Marine Mammal Protections Act and life history of the polar bears.

Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.
No, successes (cost benefit) are not quantified.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

Federal
Lead - U.S. Air Force, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, Natural Resource Management - Project Management & Funding
Others - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammal Management Office (Principal Investigator); USDI, Marine Management Service (Technical Review)
Non-Federal
State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups
Educational Facility
Other partnerships

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal $45,000

Non Federal State government

Local government

Private industry

Public interest groups

Total $45,000

In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)
1. USFWS valued at approximately $10,000 for paid staff, office space, materials, supplies, and tools
2. MMS valued at approximately $2,000 for paid staff review
Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)
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7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

Marine Mammal Protection Act: USAF, USFWS
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956: USFWS
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: USAF, USFWS, MMS
Sykes Act: USAF

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

Incomplete, an applicable example was not available

9. Project Status

Project is underway, Safety Training Video is finalized, Guidelines for Radar Site Operations in Polar Bear Habitat is in draft form, Expect a final Guideline Pamphlet in June 99, Expect a draft plan in Aug 98 and final plan May 99

Initiation date September 28, 1995

Completion date

Current stage Underway

Initiation date	September 28, 1995
Completion date
Current stage	Underway

10. Contacts

Project Manager
Mr. Gene V. Augustine, USAF, 611 CES/CEVPN
Participating Agency/Organization Contacts: (e.g. volunteer groups, conservation groups, state agencies, and other federal agency contacts)

Principle Investigator:
Mr. John W. Bridges, USFWS, MMMO

Partner Agency:
Dr. Cleve Cowles, MMS

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:46 EDT
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comments to lawrencea@fas.usda.gov

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk		Polar Bear
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)		Polar bears are the most unpredictable and dangerous of all North American bears. Provide information to better understand and manage a species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Beaches and onshore radar sites and villages are the habitat used by polar bears when they are not offshore. Polar bears attack humans. In 1991 a resident of the village of Point Lay was killed while walking through the Point Lay Long Range Radar Site (LRRS). In 1993 an Air Force contractor employee was critically wounded when a polar bear pushed its way into the Oliktok LRRS.

Federal		$45,000
Non Federal	State government
	Local government
	Private industry
	Public interest groups
Total		$45,000