Volume 14, Issue 2 | Spring/Summer 2018

UIC provides testimony to BLM Preparing EIS for 1002 ANWR Coastal Plain Leasing Program

On April 19th, 2018 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a 60-day public scoping period to assist in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The purpose of the public scoping process is to assist BLM in identifying relevant issues that will influence the scope of the EIS and guide its development.

The publication of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register begins the implementation of provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 requiring the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the BLM, to establish and administer a competitive oil and gas program for the leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the 1002 Coastal Plain area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The first lease sale will be held after completion of an environmental analysis and will offer not fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide of high-potential lands for bid.

Signed by Chairman of the Board, Price E. Brower and President, Delbert J. Rexford, the following testimony was submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) during its 60-Day Public Comment Scoping Period ending June 19th 2018. Comments such as these will assist the BLM in preparing their Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will influence the scope of the EIS and guide its development.

“Elevated view”

Continued on page 2.

Attn: Coastal Plain Oil & Gas Leasing Program EIS Dated: June 14, 2018

Established after the passage of the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) is the village corporation representing the Iñupiat shareholders and descendants originally from Barrow, Alaska.

As an Alaska Native corporation with the energy industry in our back yard, UIC sees recent developments in Alaska’s North Slope oil and gas industry, which also includes Congress’ recent approval to allow energy exploration and development activities in the 1002 Coastal Plain of ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) – as exceptional opportunities for growth within the region and state. Progress like this affords Alaska the chance to sustain its educational, healthcare, transportation, public safety, water, sewer and sanitation facilities, and let’s

Continued from page 1.

First of all I want to thank you, the UIC Shareholders for placing your trust and patience in me, the board and the new executive committee for making the necessary changes to put UIC back on track to be a healthy and successful company.

With the new team we are already seeing positive changes and hopeful financial improvements. In this newsletter you will see we have been busy hiring new personnel including an entirely new stock department. Your concerns were heard in the 2018 annual meeting on June 2nd in Barrow and we take those very seriously and will strive to meet or resolve these and look forward to talking to you on the streets of Utqiaġvik this summer!

Message From the President

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Delbert J. Rexford, President and CEO

not-forget-to-mention the thousands of jobs that will be created – in turn, helping families in Alaska and elsewhere.

UIC and its family of companies look forward to any future opportunities that may be made available through developments like this. With that being said, this is further evidence of our region’s strategic location and how vital it is to a comprehensive national energy policy.

Brought on by progressive energy development - leaders from across the North Slope of Alaska met during a formal roundtable discussion and adopted nine (9) principles that address Arctic energy development. These nine principles - make Alaska’s energy industry aware of our North Slope communities’ stance in relation to Arctic exploration and development.

North Slope Leadership Round-table Guiding Principles for Arctic Development:

1. No Tankers;

2. Undersea Pipeline Placement Subsistence Protection;

3. Undersea Pipeline Routing, No Ice Gouging;

4. Onshore Pipeline Placement Subsistence Protection;

5. Preferential hiring, training, contracting for Arctic Slope Shareholders/Tribal Members.

6. Consultation with Tribes and ANCSA Corporations and Leasing Preference.

7. Consultation Required for Use of ANCSA lands.

8. Placement of Structures for Maximum Benefit.

9. Arctic Slope ANCSA Corporation Economic Development and Land Use Plans.

McMullen Receives Certificate

UMIAQ Environmental’s very own Malachi McMullen received his certificate after completing the U.S. Department of Labor Environmental Technician Apprenticeship program. Malachi worked very hard and put in long hours to complete the program. We are very proud of him and happy to have him on our team!

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In addition, 10 years ago the UIC board of directors had the foresight to approve UIC’s Statement on Oil & Gas Development, which in part reads, “We acknowledge the inevitability of exploration and development by the oil and gas industry and will support these activities as long as they are done in a way that ensures: 1.) Protection and preservation of the Iñupiat culture and subsistence lifestyle; 2.) Economic benefit for our community; 3.) Employment for our shareholders and their families; 4.) Contract opportunities for our companies.”

Today, UIC continually adapts to an ever-changing world. With more and more focus on the global Arctic, Barrow is right at the edge of a quickly developing Arctic frontier, and UIC is poised to proactively support industry in fields as diverse as Internet technology to Arctic marine transport.

We understand that the scoping stage of this process helps the Bureau of Land Management and cooperating agencies to determine the issues that should be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement, and we appreciate the opportunity to provide our comments to this process in helping ensure that potential future development is done in a way that is respectful of our culture and environment.

We believe that as you move to create the draft Environmental Impact Statement, the following issues should be of particular focus:

I. Indigenous Knowledge from community members should be incorporated into any environmental and or, wildlife studies conducted in the Coastal Plain and the Kaktovikmiut should be consulted in how these studies take place. II. Ensure wildlife and subsistence resources are thoroughly studied and protected from any adverse effects. III. Ensure that the Kaktovikmiut are an integral part of this process – their voices should be heard above those who do not live on or near the 1002 area. IV. Require that those who buy leases in the 1002 area attend cultural and environmental

seminar given by Kaktovikmiut. V. Recommendations to the Fish and Wildlife Service to enter into a co-management arrangement with the community of Kaktovik in the management of the Coastal Plain and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge more broadly. VI. Community needs to be provided access, especially All-Terrain Vehicle in the summer and fall months, across land on the Coastal Plain for hunting, fishing, camping, and subsistence use sites. VII. Community trails, campsites, and subsistence use sites used by the community of Kaktovik should be identified and protected in the EIS and should not be included in a lease sale. VIII.Support should be provided to the community, especially Native Village of Kaktovik, to assist in their capacity to participate effectively in this process. This should include, if the community desires, BLM hire of local resident of Kaktovik to facilitate meetings and work to communicate between local entities and the BLM/DOI IX. Impact Aid has not been addressed; Kaktovik needs to know that they will receive assistance for their community. X. A Village Health Assessment should be a part of this process to provide a baseline measure of the health of the community to ensure that the health of Kaktovik is not negatively affected should any development occur.

Respectfully Yours,

Price E. Brower UIC Chairman

Delbert J. RexfordUIC President & CEO

4Drive Safe! Watch Out For Kids, Bicyclists & Motorists.

Qauagłaaġlusi qamutitaguvsi apqutini

Home-Site Lot Deed Signing

UIC accomplished a major milestone with completing the shareholder homesite lot conveyances to all original holders of UIC stock.

The project involved cross-referencing the original stockholder register file and heirship records against all shareholder homesite lot conveyances from prior homesite lotteries, including the married couple conveyances.

Names were carefully examined for eligibility. Unconveyed and open lots were identified within Nunavak Subdivision 6, Walakpa Subdivision 7, and East Barrow Gasfield Subdivision 8.

The open lots were assigned in random order to the eligible shareholders holding 100 shares of UIC stock. The homesite lot deeds are now officially recorded and on file.

UIC President, Delbert Rexford says, “I never thought in my lifetime I would sign off on original shareholder home site lot deeds.” President Rexford also said, “What an honor and opportunity. Please accept my gratitude for your hard work and diligence in getting the original shareholder home-site lot deed documentation completed. While signing the deed documents I was truly touched by the fond memories I hold in my heart for each shareholder I personally know - what a blessing.”

President Rexford also credited the hard work of the UIC Lands and Stock teams for completing the home-site deeds. “Now we can inform the heirs and bring closure to the 35 year wait of the original shareholders entitled to home site lots.”

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MSHA Course Held in Barrow

Did you know that according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) the employees who work for UIC Sand and Gravel are considered “miners?” The UIC Gravel Pit operation is covered under MSHA regulation, and the team is required to be trained annually. Refresher training is also required and all new miners are required to receive no less than 24 hours of training.

Recently UIC applied for an MSHA grant with the State of Alaska and was awarded $10,000. With these monies, UIC was able to cover all costs under the grant and send two instructors to a 5-day “Train the Trainer / New Miner” course combined with Annual Refresher Training which was conducted at the Barrow Arctic Research Center in Barrow, Alaska.

The Instructors for the course were from Safety Assessment Services, based out of Blanco, Texas. This team has worked with UIC Gravel Pit Operations for

Utqiaġvik to host 2018 Inuit Circumpolar Council assemblyThe assemblies are held every four years and bring together delegates from the world’s four Inuit regions in Russia, Canada, the United States and Greenland.

The meeting will take place July 16th through the 19th.

Delegates at the 2018 assembly will discuss everything from human rights, health and social issues, to strategies for tackling environmental and economic issues in Inuit regions of the Arctic.

“It is especially significant that the next assembly will be in Utqiaġvik, as this June we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the meeting convened here by Eben Hopson that led to the very establishment of ICC,” said ICC Chair Okalik Eegeesiak in a statement.

UIC will be participating in the event with great interest and look forward to sharing our Iñupiat values with visitors from around the globe.

UIC Gravel Pit employees undergoing training.

over two years conducting MSHA required dust and noise sampling and assisting in numerous compliance requirements and training. Congratulations to the UIC employees that attended and completed this training.

A member of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation family of companies

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Pick-up and delivery at Building #52 at NARL

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Water PlantBarrow, AK

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45th UIC Annual Shareholder’s Meeting on June 2nd, 2018

The Annual Meeting was held in Barrow at 1:00pm at Fred Ipalook Elementary School Gymnasium. Goodie-bags and brown-bag lunches were provided along with Eskimo doughnuts later in the meeting. Thank you to Mary Ahkiviana and Alexa Monexay for preparing the doughnuts! Quyanaq to the new UIC Stock department Director, Hazel “Katuk” Pebley and her staff for organizing and putting on the annual meeting, not an easy task in itself but to take this on just weeks after being hired to the company deserves extra appreciation! See page 9 - in this newsletter for more information on the new stock department team. Also kudos to all contributing departments for your help!

UIC Board Election ResultsTop three Directors in order of votes received:

Delbert J. Rexford 76,365 Lloyd Kanayurak 38,760 Ned T. Arey Sr. 34,762

Changing Residence Requirements for Directors Proposal:UIC shareholders were asked to vote on amending UIC’s Bylaws to establish seven (7) local seats (to be filled by shareholders residing in Barrow) and two (2) at-large seats (to be filled by shareholders residing anywhere, including outside of Barrow) on the Board of Directors. This Proposal failed.

The results of the re-organization meeting held Monday, June 4, 2018 in Barrow, Alaska:

Chairman: Price E. BrowerVice Chair: Josiah PatkotakPresident: Delbert J. RexfordVice President: Lloyd KanayurakTreasurer: Beverly J. Shontz EliasonCorp. Secretary: Richard Ungarook Sr.Director: Mary Jane Ahvakana-LangDirector: Anthony E. EdwardsenDirector: Ned T. Arey, Sr.

UIC Shareholders can request a copy of the Certified Election Results from the UIC Stock Department. Please visit our offices in Barrow or call UIC at (907) 852-4460.

Shareholder Awardees

• Cultural Bearer Award: Roberta Leavitt • Community Service Award: Marvin Kanayurak • Community Service Award: Herman Ahsoak• Outstanding Educator Award: Mae Ahgeak• Outstanding Shareholder Award: Miriam Aiken• Outstanding Homemaker Award: Doreen Ahmaogak • Lifetime Achievement & Language Preservation Award: Jana Harcharek • Elder of the Year Award: Jane Patkotak

Receiving 45th Commemorative Certificates for Outstanding Group Achievement Award for Completion of Original Home-Site Lots:

• Heather Hopson

• Denise Hopson

• Miriam Aiken

• Debbie Nayakik

• Christina Cisneros

• Michelle Weyiouanna

• Harriet Reich Mae Ahgeak receiving her award for 2018 Outstanding Educator alongside Chairman Brower and President Rexford.Door prize winners on page 11.

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Certificate awardees L-R, Debbie Nayakik, Miriam Aiken, Heather Hopson, Michelle Weyiouanna and Don Gray accepting for Christina Cisneros.

UMIAQ D&MS to design new Iḷisaġvik College Campus

UMIAQ Design & Municpal Services, LLC (UMIAQ D&MS) in collaboration with Cibinel Architecture Ltd. provided the winning proposal for the Iḷisaġvik College New Campus Preliminary Concept Design Competition. The international competition was open to qualified Alaskan design firms and encouraged circumpolar firm participation with a total of seven firms submitting proposals for the competition.

Cibinel Architecture Ltd. is a mid-size architecture firm based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. UMIAQ D&MS will be the prime consultant providing project management, architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, and surveying. Richard Rearik, UMIAQ D&MS Architecture Manager in Anchorage, anticipates the programming concept design phase to start in July 2018 and that up-to-10 or more UMIAQ D&MS personnel will be involved in the project design work, which will span a couple of years. The project will be designed to be constructed in phases as funding permits.

The overall size of the project concept includes three phases with up to 150,000 s.f. of facilities. This includes program space for academic instruction, vocational education, faculty offices, administration, institutional support, early learning center, student-

staff housing, recreation, and maintenance and operations. The project includes a completely new campus and facilities designed to meet the current and future higher educational needs of Iḷisaġvik College and the communities that it serves. It will serve the residents of the North Slope Borough and serve as a hub for circumpolar education.

from laborer, carpenter and equipment operator. Clayton has been with UIC Construction since 2006.

New Anchorage Interim Executive Assistant Sandra Stuermer joins UIC as the new Interim Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Directors. Sandra is a senior corporate manager and officer with 25+ years of progressive responsibilities in financial reporting, corporate treasury and governance, contract

management, banking relations, and service on other boards of directors. Sandra received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Alaska in 2009. Sandra was born in Barrow and has spent much of her life there as an employee of Arctic Slope Regional Corp and Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation. Ms. Stuermer retains her home in Barrow, and she looks forward to the opportunities to balance her urban life with the Iñupiat community that she has shared with so many of UIC’s shareholders.

New Office Manager/Executive AssistantMary Patkotak joins UIC as the new Executive Assistant to the President and the Board of Directors, as well as the UIC Barrow Office Manager. In addition she will take on the duties of the UIC Foundation Manager. She is the wife of Harry Patkotak and together they have seven children.

Her parents are James and Esther Lum of Fairbanks, and her grandparents are the late Luke and Mary Saganna of Barrow and the late James and Virginia Lum of Yakima, Washington. A shareholder of UIC, Mary was born in Edmonds, Washington and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. With support from the UIC Foundation, Mary graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a bachelor’s degree in Rural Development and also from Iḷisaġvik College with a Heavy Truck Operations endorsement. She is the former Tribal Transportation Director for the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope and former Arctic Education Foundation Manager for the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Mary currently serves

Recent Personnel Changes

New Chief Financial OfficerJeevan Pokharel was been hired as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reporting to President, Delbert Rexford in March 2018. He brings over ten years of successful financial leadership with him. Jeevan is well versed in construction, oil field services, heavy-haul trucking, marine

transportation, and the government contracting and service industry. Mr. Pokharel has a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Finance, both from the University of Idaho. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Merger & Acquisitions Advisor.

New Corporate General CounselIn March 2018 Rick Owen joined UIC as the new Corporate General Counsel. Rick received his Bachelor of Science in Business Finance from Brigham Young University, his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Pepperdine University School of Law (Cum Laude), and is licensed to

practice law in California, Alaska, and Alaska Federal District Court. Rick has been Married 36 year and has six children.

New Senior VP of UIC Commercial OpsClayton Arterburn , formally UIC Construction’s General Manager, was promoted to Senior Vice President of UIC Commercial Operations in March 2018. Clayton was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Alaska in 1975 and was raised in Willow, his current home. After

graduating from Central Washington University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Clayton worked and managed a wide range of construction projects all over the State of Alaska and Washington State. He has worked in the construction field in a wide variety of capacities,

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New UIC expeditor at Barrow OfficeAndrea Asiannataq Akootchook was hired in mid-May as an Expeditor for UIC in Barrow. She previously worked at the Fuel Tank Farm in Barrow with Eskimos Inc. Prior to that she worked with UIC Arctic Response Services, LLC as a Maintenance Technician. She was raised in Barrow, by her parents

Bertha Akpik and Leonard Akootchook she graduated from high school in 2004. Andrea joined the U.S. Army where she trained as a machinist.

New Barrow office receptionistAzara-Lee Britteny Sisualik Leavitt joined UIC as the new Receptionist for the Barrow office. A shareholder of UIC, Azara was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but raised in Barrow. Her parents are Frances and Steven Leavitt, Sr. Azara’s siblings are Florence and Robert Alred, Steven

Leavitt, Jr., and Daphne Leavitt. Azara has 16 nieces and nephews and Azara graduated from Kiita Learning Center in May 2018.

Please help us welcome all new employees to the UIC family of companies!

on the Governor’s Tribal Advisory Council’s Tribal Transportation Subcommittee. Mary, along with her husband and children, are members of the Barrow Dancers and they are looking forward to performing at the 2018 Inuit Circumpolar Conference held in Barrow in July.

New UIC Stock departmentHazel Faye “Katuk” Pebley joined UIC as the new Director of Stock in May. Her background includes working for ASRC Stock Department and North Slope Borough. Katuk is a shareholder, born and raised in Barrow. Her parents are the late Joseph Panigeo Sr. and Mabel Panigeo. Katuk attended

high school at Mt. Edgecumbe, Anchorage West High School and was an exchange student in 1972 and spent three months in Spain and received her high school diploma from Dilllingham High School. She attend Alaska Methodist University for a year. Katuk has served on various boards and commissions including: Bowhead Transportation, BUECI, Top of the World, SKW, Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks, Barrow Taxi Cab Commission, Barrow Zoning Commission, Planning Commission, and the NSB Personnel Board. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, boating, four-wheeler trips, camping and her favorite past-time is FISHING. She is also an active member of the Panigeo Whaling Crew who successfully caught a whale this Spring!

Kristy Ann Nauriaq Clerc joined Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation last month as a Stock Technician in the Barrow office. She is a UIC shareholder and was born in Anchorage and raised in Barrow, Alaska. Her parents are the late Helen and Merle Solomon of Barrow. She

is the mother of Kristen Solomon and Sebastien Ahyakak-Clerc II. Outside of work, Kristy enjoys spending time with her family and learning Iñupiaq traditions.

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Congratulations to all the whaling captains and crews!

Art by Charles Tuckfield

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Qaŋa taima?(Remember when?)

One UIC, One Anchorage Office

This summer in Anchorage, the Calais Office staff moved over to the Arctic Spur Office building to combine forces and cut costs. The office space at the Calais Building in mid-town is available to be sub-

leased out to a new tenant. The mailing and street address for the Anchorage office is 6700 Arctic Spur Rd, Anchorage, AK 99518. The phone numbers remain the same.

Have interesting news or photos to share? All stories and photographs should include permission to publish, author’s name and contact information. Email to: nasirvik@uicalaska.com

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Receiving dates for Prudhoe Bay Service: July 25th through August 15th 2018

Contact Bowhead Transport today for your shareholder rate!

*Dates are subject to change without notice.

BOWHEAD CAN BARGE IT | SPECIALIZED VESSELS | ARCTIC BARGING EXPERTSCARGO@BOWHEAD.COMWWW.BOWHEADTRANSPORT.COM | | [800] 909-3677

2018 Annual Shareholder’s Meeting Door Prize winners

Early Door Prize Winners1st Prize AC Gift Card Olivia J Cabinboy ....... $100.002nd Prize EI Gift Card Jens Leavitt ............... $100.00 3rd Prize AC Gift Card George Woods ........... $100.00 4th Prize EI Gift Card Della McCoy .............. $100.00 5th Prize AC Gift Card Thomas C Brower, III .. $100.00 6th Prize EI Gift Card George Neakok .......... $100.00 7th Prize AC Gift Card Bonnie M Lincoln ....... $100.008th Prize EI Gift Card Juanita Smith ............ $100.00 9th Prize AC Gift Card John H Tagarook ....... $100.00 10th Prize EI Gift Card Marcus Sikvayugak .... $100.00

Door Prize WinnersConnie Marie Fishel ......................................... $2,000.00 Veronica Jean Neakok ..................................... $500.00 Lindsay Robin Renkert .................................... $500.00 Elizabeth Lee Rexford ..................................... $500.00 Jerry V Burnell ................................................ $500.00 Rhoda Leavitt .................................................. $500.00 Yeleana A A Toalston ....................................... $500.00 Rhoda Violet Sikvayugak ................................ $500.00

Lena Mae Kenton ............................................ $500.00 Bert P Akootchook .......................................... $500.00 Mary Virginia Sage .......................................... $500.00 Alice Ruth Drake ............................................ $250.00 Ethel K. Burke ................................................. $250.00 Stephen A MacLean ........................................ $250.00 Dexter H Bordeaux ......................................... $250.00 Jennifer McCumber, (Georgianna McCumber, Custodian) .............. $250.00 Zeb Anthony Tookak ....................................... $250.00 Lilly Itta ............................................................ $250.00 Darryll Scott Clow ........................................... $250.00 Darryl Neakok ................................................. $250.00 Stella Hannah Scott ........................................ $250.00

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