Resolution 16-081(A) Opposing U.S. Navy Training Exercises in the Gulf of Alaska

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Lewis

RESOLUTION 16-081(A)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, OPPOSING SITING AND TIMING OF U.S. NAVY TRAINING EXERCISES THAT POSE RISKS TO FISH AND FISHERIES IN THE GULF OF ALASKA.

WHEREAS, The City of Homer is the governing body with the full power and authority as recognized by the citizens of Homer, to act for its members, and has responsibility to provide government for the good health and welfare of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer recognizes the value of naval practices in preparing our Navy for wartime activities; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Navy plans to conduct training activities utilizing explosives, live ordnance, and sonar in the Gulf of Alaska in 2017 that will have impacts on marine life and habitat vital to the interests of the City of Homer and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, These trainings will impact the waters of the Gulf of Alaska by annually releasing up to approximately 352,000 pounds of expended materials including up to 10,500 pounds of hazardous materials including cyanide, chromium, lead, tungsten, nickel, cadmium, barium chromate, chlorides, phosphorus, titanium compounds, lead oxide, potassium perchlorate, lead chromate, ammonium perchlorate, fulminate of mercury, and lead azide into waters designated by NOAA as Essential Fish Habitat for a multitude of species that support the economic development in Alaskan coastal communities and harvest of wild Alaskan salmon and other fish for global markets; and

WHEREAS, The training area and vicinity is a highly productive region for many marine fish and shellfish populations and supports some of the most productive fisheries in the United States, and an important spawning area for many fishes, and the training is scheduled to take place during the summer season when many fish populations are migrating and spawning (at least 383 species belonging to 84 families of marine and anadromous fishes have been reported from the predominant ecosystems found in the training area); and

WHEREAS, The port of Homer is reliant on the fish and wildlife resources in the Gulf of Alaska for their subsistence harvest and the livelihoods supported by commercial fishing; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer supports all cultural, traditional and subsistence activities historically and continually practiced by Native and non-Native peoples in the Gulf of Alaska; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer finds no scientific information or traditional knowledge demonstrating that the U.S. Navy’s training activities can take place without negatively affecting salmon, marine mammal, bird and other marine habitats.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, does hereby request that the U.S. Navy refrain from using live ordnance or sonar in any Marine Protected Area, including NOAA Fisheries Marine Protected Areas, State Marine Protected Areas and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the Homer, Alaska, hereby requests that the U.S. Navy relocate its training area to the far southeast corner of the current designated training area, off the Continental Shelf areas of the Gulf of Alaska, and away from seamounts.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, requests the U.S. Navy to conduct its training exercises after the middle of September and before the spring, so as not to impact migrating salmon and other species.

               PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 8th day of August, 2016.

                                                                                                         CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                         ________________________

                                                                                                         MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

___________________________

JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A