where temporary berms or "pools" would be fashioned to contain a spill, and the nearby source of earth or sand needed for berms or restitution. The oil so contained would be recovered by the most appropriate means, moved to the nearest pumping station, and be re-injected into the pipeline. All visual effects at the spill locations would be cleaned up and the area rehabilitated. For locations which potentially involve oil loss into water, use would be made of floating booms and skimming devices to contain and recover any oil. There is currently in progress a considerable amount of research work concerning oil spill cleanup in the private and public sectors. The results of this work, wherever applicable, would be incorporated in the contingency plans. Haul road Ground transportation of materials, equipment, and personnel for the construction of the southern half of the pipeline between Valdez and the Yukon will utilize the existing highway system of the State of Alaska. This involves the Richardson Highway from Valdez to Fairbanks, the Elliot Highway from Fairbanks to Livengood, the LivengoodManley Hot Springs road, and the 57-mile road from near Livengood to the Yukon River. There is presently no all-weather road from the Yukon River to the North Slope. While such a road would not be a permanent part of the pipeline system, its construction is essential if the pipeline is to be built in that area. The State of Alaska has indicated an intent to take a right-of-way for a road from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay which would form a part of the State's highway system. Description of Existing Environment Human resources Population distribution The current population of Alaska is estimated at 313,000 people of whom about 54,000 or 17 percent are Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts. The high growth rate (the 1965 population was 265,000) stems primarily from the influx of immigrants attracted by the burgeoning economy and the high rate of increase in the Native population. This latter rate is the highest of any ethnic group in the United States. The Alaskan population is the most youthful in the Nation with half of the entire population being less than 23.3 years of age. The average population density of Alaska is 4/10 of 1 person per square mile, roughly equivalent to the density in the American West of a century ago and very low compared to the average U. S. density of 60 persons per square mile. The military segment of the population has remained relatively static in total numbers and presently comprises about 11 percent of the total population. Approximately one-half of the State's population resides in Anchorage and its suburbs. Fairbanks, the second largest urban center, has a population of 14,336, according to preliminary 1970 census figures, but there are about 46,000 residents in the metropolitan area. Of the 46,000 about 2,200 are Natives. a population of roughly 14,000. Juneau, the capital of the State, has The 260,000 or so non-Native Alaskans tend to live in or near these urban centers and have occupations very much like those of other Americans. Most of Alaska's Native people, on the other hand, dwell in villages away from the larger cities and towns and rely for their livelihood to a large degree upon a relatively primitive subsistence economy resting on hunting and fishing. More than 70 percent of the Natives live in 178 villages or towns where at least half of the residents are Natives. in the six larger urban centers of the State. The remaining 5 percent live in smaller non-Native towns, and in a few hundred isolated one or two family locations. Rapid migration has been taking place to Alaska's larger cities, and to large Native towns such as Barrow, Kotzebue, and Bethel. Yet the number of villages is not diminishing because of the unusually high annual birth rate which in 1960 was 3.8 percent as compared with 1.4 percent for the total United States. On a regional basis, there is a majority of Natives to non-Natives in northern and western laska. Feser than one out of ten residents of the remainder of the State are Native. Education level tean educational level for the non-Native population is more than Indications 12 years; that of the Native segment is considerably lower. According to 1960 figures, 50 percent of Natives 14 years or older had completed no more than sixth grade, with a median of 6.6 total school years. are that since 1960 the educational level of the Native population has been rising rapidly; the number of Natives in boarding high schools, in higher education and vocational training have all nearly tripled. As of 1967 there were 121 public schools in Alaska with a total enrollment of 60,237. The Bureau of Indian Affairs operated 83 schools with an enrollment of 7,117. The Bureau schools are in the process of being transferred to the State. Health Health problems in Alaska may generally be divided into two categories. Those of the relatively large towns and cities, which generally resemble those of other U. S. cities, and those that are unique to the isolated small settlements where medical and sanitary resources are minimal. These differing health conditions are reflected in the relatively high mortality rate for village dwelling Native Alaskans which is more than double the figure for residents of larger population centers. Research indicates that disease-bearing organisms live much longer in a cold region environment. Viruses and bacteria surviving for long periods of time in refuse therefore have increased opportunity to be washed into lakes and streams and cause outbreaks of infectious hepatitis, typhoid or dysentery in smaller settlements that have primitive sevage arrangements and unprotected water supplies. The cold weather, which is characteristic of the State for much of the year, also has a direct bearing on the frequency of accidents and Again, these are accentuated in the smaller Native respiratory illnesses. communities. As of 1967 Alaska had 36 hospitals and health centers and 136 physicians. Juneau. Most of these were concentrated in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and 55-360 - 71 pt. 1 40 Employment and economic situation Employment and income patterns vary widely from region to region and by season. On a statewide basis, personal income has been rising rapidly and passed one billion dollars in 1968. Because of the high level of government employment, wages and salaries represent a substantially larger percentage of total personal income than they do in other states. Due to the high cost of labor and some materials, manufacturing processes that use Alaskan resources, can in many instances be done more efficiently outside of the State. This has tended to discourage industrial development. Average per capita income in Alaska in 1967 was $3,629, 16 percent above the national average. There are large disparities between the non-Natives and Native income and employment patterns. Most non-Natives are, by and large, regularly employed with the majority of families earning more than $10,000 per year, although there are a few that earn less than $2,000. Most Natives live in an economy based on subsistence fishing and hunting and have little cash income. More than one-half of the work force is unemployed most of the year and median per capita income for rural Natives with income is extremely low. Government, both Federal and State, is the largest single continuing employer in the Alaska economy, utilizing roughly 25,600 people in 1963. This figure does not include military personnel. Fishing and iish processing is highly important but seasonal and occupied 30,342 people during peak activity in 1968. The Service sector is the next largest employer, utilizing 9,300 people. Wood products and petroleum trail the list, with 2,500 and 2,150 people respectively. |