Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples in EIAs: A perspective from the NSB Department of Wildlife Management Robert Suydam, Ph.D. Senior Wildlife Biologist North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management

Background/Context Conduct EIA (EIS, EA, etc.) for a variety of projects Most prominent are development BOEM, NOAA/NMFS, BLM, USFWS, etc. NEPA process: Scoping, draft EIS, Public Hearing, Record of Decision Focus on EIAs in the marine with possible impact on bowheads and bowhead hunters

Indigenous Knowledge Example of scientific and IK (TK, TEK, etc.) knowledge about bowhead whales Sensitivity to human industrial sounds

History 1980s and 1990s: Great deal of concern about offshore oil and gas activity Scientific knowledge was limited IK was broad and deep, based on generations of observations Science/managers did not know how integrate IK into science or the decision-making process

Trust and Respect Lack of trust and respect Lack of understanding about IK by agencies and scientists IK not incorporated in decisions Iñupiat people frustrated because they said the same things over and over and over Great deal of risk to bowheads and hunters Agencies did not listen…..initially.

NSB and AEWC Hired scientists to review studies and assess impacts Ensure industry studies were designed correctly Worked with Congress to change the laws and force agencies to listen Pressured agencies and industry for decades

Bowheads Very Sensitive to Human Sounds Hunters very quiet on the ice Whales can detect and react to faint human sounds Traditionally, even people in the villages a long ways from the ice edge were quiet

Bowheads Sensitivity to Sound 1980s and 1990s: Hunters said whales sensitive to human sounds when whales were 20 to 30 miles away. Scientists said whales were sensitive to seismic sounds when 2 to 5 miles away.

Science verifying IK By the late 1990s and 2000s, scientific understanding was “catching” up to IK. Bowheads responded to sounds: Seismic—near total avoidance to ~12 miles with substantial impacts to ~18 miles Drilling—near total avoidance 9-15 miles Northstar Development Island—whales were responding to sounds at very low levels (below background sound levels)

Agencies Responded IK and science saying the same things, agencies are incorporating knowledge into decisions Stipulations to protect bowheads and fall bowhead hunting: e.g., time and area closures (CAA between AEWC and Industry) Additional research and monitoring required

Lessons Learned Indigenous people Intimate understanding of the environment, often better than science Voice of the resources Take action into their own hands to force agencies to incorporate IK into EIAs IK and science strong when used together Agencies did respond, but needed to be lead or pushed Some agencies now try to actively integrate IK

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