WEBVTT

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Yeah . Mhm . Mhm .

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Mhm .

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Operation Northern

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Edge is an extremely important exercise

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that gives us greater squatters an

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opportunity to train the joint

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battlespace in one of the largest range

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complexes in the world . So we have a

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lot of rages all across the country .

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But nowhere like Alaska , can we train

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in size and scale in large force

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exercises like we can and exercise like

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Northern Edge .

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The gulf of Alaska is beautiful

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environment supports many important

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natural and cultural resources . This

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vast , ecologically diverse area is

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home to many important bird fish and

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marine mammal species . Alaskans depend

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on this unique region for commerce ,

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subsistence and recreational activities .

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It is also an important training area

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for the US . military . The Navy has

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safely trained here for more than 30

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years alongside our partner military

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services . Every other year . The navy

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typically participates in the joint

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exercise known as northern edge . Us

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Pacific Air Forces hosts the exercise

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on the behalf of the US indo pacific

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Command . It takes place for about 2-3

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weeks in the spring , summer or fall

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time frame . The Navy's temporary

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training area during exercises is

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located beyond U . S . Territorial

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waters or 12 nautical miles from shore

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to help reduce the potential to affect

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marine species and to minimize impacts

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to Alaska . Native commercial and

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recreational fishing gulf of Alaska is

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an ideal training area for a number of

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reasons . It's close to existing Air

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Force and Army training areas . It has

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unique oceanographic conditions ,

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including a cold water training

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environment and it has a large space

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available to support complex realistic

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training scenarios . Northern Edge

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exercises are designed to replicate

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challenging real world scenarios and

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prepare military personnel to respond

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to them . This includes providing

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humanitarian assistance , responding to

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global conflicts , defending against

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threats to homeland security , and

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protecting freedom of the seas To

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ensure our country's economic

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prosperity . The skills needed to

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successfully respond to these scenarios

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are challenging to master and require

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constant practice . Maritime training

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activities may include aircraft , ship

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and submarine operations , weapons

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training and qualifications , aerial

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surveillance training , submarine

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detection and location and vessel

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searches and interdiction training . In

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some instances , training activities

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can include the use of sonar to locate

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objects underwater . Those frequency

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ranges are typically beyond the hearing

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threshold for most species of fish . In

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this area . Training activities may

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also include the use of weapons systems

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and the use of explosives , although

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they are typically not used in the

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underwater environments , diverse and

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realistic training exercises in the

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real world environment can better

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prepare sailors for what they will

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experience in combat or during

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emergency situations . You can ensure

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their success and survival . Being a

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good steward of the environment is an

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important part of the Navy's mission ,

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including when training in the gulf of

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Alaska every few years . The Navy re

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analyzes the potential environmental

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effects associated with continued

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activities in the gulf of Alaska . In

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accordance with the National

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Environmental Policy Act , This

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analysis supports authorizations

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required under the Marine Mammal

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Protection Act and the endangered

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species Act . Our previous analyses

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determine these training activities

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would not have significant effect on

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the environment . Of note . The

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majority of potential effects to marine

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mammals would be temporary behavioral

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responses without injury or long term

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impact . Typical examples include

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changes in vocalizations or changes in

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swim speed or direction . The Navy is

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committed to protecting the Gulf of

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Alaska's marine and coastal resources .

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Since 2009 , the Navy has funded

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approximately $6 million dollars for

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marine species monitoring in the

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offshore waters of this area . Mm This

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scientific research has helped the Navy

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developed a variety of mitigations to

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protect the marine environment during

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training activities . These mitigations

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were developed in consultation with

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regulatory agencies and with feedback

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received from the public , tribes and

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other key stakeholders . Protective

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measures include observing the area for

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marine mammal species , prior to

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activities , hosting qualified lookouts

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on vessels and aircraft during an

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exercise , and limiting activities in

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geographic and seasonal mitigation

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areas . More information about the

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Navy's analysis of potential impacts

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during training activities can be found

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on our goA . E . I . S . Project

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website . To learn more about Navy

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funded research in the marine

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environment , please visit the Navy's

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marine species monitoring site listed

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here .