1. Chukchi Sea Environmental Studies Program (CSESP)
Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples within an Environmental Impact Assessment
Utqiagvik, Alaska
November 27-29, 2017
Sheyna Wisdom
Fairweather Science LLC

2. What is CSESP? Lease Sale 193 in early 2008
Marine ecosystem studies program in northeastern Chukchi Sea ( )
Operated by ConocoPhillips , by Olgoonik Fairweather
Funded jointly by ConocoPhillips, Shell, Statoil
Objectives:
Collect “baseline” data for environmental impact assessments prior to exploration for industry
Provide information for agencies to conduct realistic evaluations of impacts and mitigation measures
Contribute to overall research/knowledge
Voluntary program by industry

3. Daytime transects for seabirds/marine mammals
Hanna Shoal Regional Study Area
( )
Statoil
“Statoil”
( )
Daytime transects for seabirds/marine mammals
Nighttime sampling for oceanography
Acoustics
Metocean buoys/ADCPs
Timeline: late July thru early October
Shell
“Burger”
( )
ConocoPhillips “Klondike” ( )

4. Collaboration Operated by Olgoonik Fairweather LLC
Joint venture with Olgoonik Corporation (Alaska Native Corporation for Village of Wainwright and Fairweather Science LLC)
Collaboration among three oil companies
Costs shared equally
Shared scientists & vessels
One large study vs. multiple small studies
Reduced impact on communities/ecosystem

5. Information Sharing Data availability Reports Vessel operations
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data sharing agreement
All raw data available on Arctic Ocean Observing System (AOOS) website
Available on North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) database/website
Reports
All plans, reports, publications available on website (
Distribution list ( s, hard copies, etc.)
Vessel operations
Real-time tracking link for all vessels
Single point of contact throughout project

6. Community Collaboration
Iñupiat Communicators/Observers on all vessels
Barrow, Wainwright, Kotzebue
Logistics operated out of Wainwright with Olgoonik employees

7. Conflict Avoidance Wainwright operations Barrow operations
Conducted 4-12 crew changes in Wainwright each year
Beluga harvest happens whenever belugas come in
Several crew changes coincided with harvest
No conflicts
Barrow operations
Deploy/retrieve acoustic buoys 5 and 10 miles from Barrow in late September/early October
Bowhead fall harvest same time
Coordinated with AEWC on operations to occur at night and when weather precluded hunting
Communication Centers/SIMOPs call
Daily calls into centers with 24 & 48-hour forecast

8. Effective Communication
Safety seminar prior to field season
Started with only Principal Investigators and clients
Evolved to include all field crew – created a team
“Cultural awareness” evolution
Video used by industry
Invited Olgoonik employees that lived in Wainwright to speak
Elders/hunters across North Slope spoke to entire crew
Elders/hunters spoke directly to scientists on how to incorporate TK in reports/study design

9. Community Meetings Community meetings School encounters
ConocoPhillips met with Chukchi communities, heard studies were needed to understand impacts
Point Hope specifically recommended ocean acidification needed to be added
Companies met with communities prior to and post field season
School encounters
2009: “science road show” in Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Barrow
2013: Wainwright school workshop
2014: Barrow Impact Camp

10. Key Lessons Learned Personnel extremely important Relationships
Study initiation/design
Continued funding (7 years!)
NOAA data sharing
Stakeholder engagement
Relationships
Same people involved from day 1
Same community members hired
Worked with same stakeholders
Challenges
Incorporation of TK in study design and analysis challenging
Working with communities to avoid conflicts requires listening
Caryn Rea, ConocoPhillips
Michael Macrander, Shell
Steinar Eldøy, Statoil
John Burns/Bob Day, Chief Scientists
Sheyna Wisdom, Program Manager

11. Quyanaq www.chukchiscience.com Sheyna Wisdom Fairweather Science