WEBVTT

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(plane propeller whirs)

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- The area of responsibility for

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Coast Guard Sector Anchorage is by far

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the largest and most remote
in the entire US Coast Guard.

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Sector personnel came up
with an innovative plan,

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designed to meet the
staffing, transportation,

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and fiscal needs of
conducting inspections for

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the Marine Safety Task force initiative.

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Infrastructure of many of the
fuel facilities throughout

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the state of Alaska is deteriorating.

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The 2019 Sector Anchorage Marine Safety

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Task force initiative launched

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a summer season search operation

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to inspect as many of these
facilities as possible.

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Working toward that goal has
required the Sector Anchorage

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depend heavily upon
Coast Guard active duty

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and reserve members from other
Alaska Coast Guard units,

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as well as members from
units in the lower 48

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on temporary duty orders.

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In order to access most
of these facilities,

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inspectors must first fly
commercially from Anchorage

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to hub communities, such as Nome, Alaska.

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Each team stays within the hub community,

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anywhere from 10-14 days, depending on

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the need of that community.

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From the hub community, inspectors
must board another plane

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to more remote Alaskan villages.

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Often the second flight is
a commercial or bush plane.

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- [Announcer] Please remember to keep

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your seatbelt fastened.

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- [Jereme] In 2019, Sector
Anchorage has been lucky to have

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the support of the Air
Force's Civil Air Petrol

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for transportation to remote villages.

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(plane engine chugs)

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(plane whirs)

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The Civil Air Petrol's
made up of volunteers,

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like the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

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Due to the constraints and
cost of flying commercially,

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Civil Air Petrol pilots have
greatly enhanced our ability

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to execute missions in the
Arctic and western Alaska.

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Upon arriving in the villages,
inspectors must depend

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on cooperation from locals
for ground transportation.

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All-terrain vehicles or snow
machines are often necessary

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to gain access to the inspection sites.

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The primary goal of
facility inspections is

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to insure public safety and protection of

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the marine environment throughout Alaska.

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Failure of these facilities
could negatively impact

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remote Alaskan villages and
potentially leave people

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unable to heat their homes and schools,

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or fuel their transportation.

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Additionally, an oil spill
in Alaska has the potential

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to impact the largest salmon
fishery in the United States.

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Inspectors have been working
closely facility owners

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and operators, and supervisors
to achieve compliance

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based on results of these inspections.

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Each MSTF, Marine Safety
Task Force, is multi-mission

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and tasked with meeting the
needs of the regular community

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by providing commercial
fishing vessel exams,

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hazardous material container inspections,

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and evaluating oil
spill booming strategies

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as time in each community allows.

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Sector Anchorage Marine Safety Task forces

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are the boots on the ground,
and the face of the Coast Guard

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in this region.

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All meetings with tribal representatives

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and interactions in the
villages so far have indicated

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that our presence is
welcome and encouraged.