Therefore, as more navigable ocean  water emerges in the Arctic and human activity increases, the Coast  Guard will face expanding responsibilities in the region. Specifically, our analysis  showed that, of the five reporting elements, DOD addressed three and  partially addressed two. However, it has not yet  developed a comprehensive approach to addressing Arctic capabilities  that would include steps such as developing a risk-based investment  strategy and timeline to address near-term needs and establishing a  collaborative forum with the Coast Guard to identify long-term Arctic  investments. DOD and DHS Have Established a Collaborative Forum to Identify Potential Near- term Investments but Not Long-term Needs

While DOD and DHS have established the working group to identify  shared near-term Arctic capability gaps, this collaborative forum is not  intended to address long-term Arctic capability gaps or identify  opportunities for joint investments over the longer-term. According to DOD and Coast Guard officials, although the  working group is primarily focused on near-term investments, it has  discussed some mid- to long-term capability needs. Addressing near-term gaps is essential  for DOD to have the key enabling capabilities it needs to communicate,  navigate, and maintain awareness of activity in the region. Recommendations for Executive Action

To more effectively leverage federal investments in Arctic capabilities in a  resource-constrained environment and ensure needed capabilities are  developed in a timely way, we recommend that the Secretary of Defense,  in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland  Security, take the following two actions: develop a risk-based investment strategy that: 1) identifies and  prioritizes near-term Arctic capability needs, 2) develops a timeline for  addressing them, and 3) is updated as appropriate; and establish a collaborative forum with the Coast Guard to fully leverage  federal investments and help avoid overlap and redundancies in  addressing long-term Arctic capability needs. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The objectives of our work were to determine the extent to which (1) the  Department of Defense (DOD) report on the Arctic addresses the  reporting elements specified in House Report 111-491 and (2) DOD has  efforts under way to identify and prioritize the capabilities needed to meet  national security objectives in the Arctic. To address the extent to which DOD’s report on the Arctic addresses the  reporting elements specified in House Report 111-491, we evaluated the  DOD Report to Congress on Arctic Operations and the Northwest  Passage (Arctic Report) issued in May 2011. In addition, we interviewed DOD officials involved in  preparing the Arctic Report to discuss their interpretation of the direction  in the House Report and the DOD report’s findings. To address the extent to which DOD has efforts under way to identify and  prioritize the capabilities needed to meet national security objectives in  the Arctic, we reviewed documentation related to DOD’s Arctic  operations, such as the U.S. Navy’s November 2009 Arctic Roadmap, the  February 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, the U.S. European  Command’s April 2011 Arctic Strategic Assessment, the U.S. Coast  Guard’s July 2011 High Latitude Study, and the Navy’s September 2011  Arctic Capabilities Based Assessment. 5136), directed DOD to submit a  report on Arctic Operations and the  Northwest Passage. Climate Change Adaptation: Federal Efforts to Provide Information Could  Help Government Decision Making.
Why GAO Did This Study

The gradual retreat of polar sea ice, combined with an expected increase in human activityshipping traffic, oil and gas exploration, and tourism in the Arctic regioncould eventually increase the need for a U.S. military and homeland security presence in the Arctic. As a result, the Department of Defense (DOD) must begin preparing to access, operate, and protect national interests there. House Report 111-491 directed DOD to prepare a report on Arctic Operations and the Northwest Passage, and specified five reporting elements that should be addressed. House Report 112-78 directed GAO to review DODs report. GAO assessed the extent to which 1) DODs Report to Congress on Arctic Operations and the Northwest Passage (Arctic Report) addressed the specified reporting elements and 2) DOD has efforts under way to identify and prioritize the capabilities needed to meet national security objectives in the Arctic. GAO analyzed DODs Arctic Report and related documents and interviewed DOD and U.S. Coast Guard officials.

What GAO Found

DODs Arctic Report, submitted May 31, 2011, addressed three and partially addressed two of the elements specified in the House Report.
While DOD has undertaken some efforts to assess the capabilities needed to meet national security objectives in the Arctic, it is unclear whether DOD will be in a position to provide needed capabilities in a timely and efficient manner because it lacks a risk-based investment strategy for addressing near-term needs and a collaborative forum with the Coast Guard for addressing long-term capability needs. DODs Arctic Report acknowledges that it has some near-term gaps in key capabilities needed to communicate, navigate, and maintain awareness of activity in the region. However, DOD has not yet evaluated, selected, or implemented alternatives for prioritizing and addressing near-term Arctic capability needs. In addition, DOD and the Coast Guard have established a working group to identify potential collaborative efforts to enhance U.S. Arctic capabilities. This working group is focused on identifying potential near-term investments but not longer-term needs, and it is currently expected to be dissolved in January 2012. Uncertainty involving the rate of Arctic climate change necessitates careful planning to ensure efficient use of resources in developing Arctic needs such as basing infrastructure and icebreakers, which require long lead times to develop and are expensive to build and maintain. Without taking steps to meet near- and long-term Arctic capability needs, DOD risks making premature Arctic investments, being late in obtaining needed capabilities, or missing opportunities to minimize costs by collaborating on investments with the Coast Guard.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DOD develop a risk-based investment strategy and timeline for developing Arctic capabilities needed in the near-term; and establish a forum with the Coast Guard to identify collaborative Arctic capability investments over the long-term. DOD and the Department of Homeland Security generally agreed with GAOs recommendations.