APPENDIX X

UNIVERSITY-NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC LABORATORY SYSTEM

An association of institutions for the coordination and support of university oceanographic facilities

Charge to the High Latitude Facility Coordinating Committee

The U.S. Coast Guard, NSF and UNOLS have agreed to establish a UNOLS Committee that would facilitate the optimal utilization of U.S. polar science platforms and address academic science concerns aboard the USCG icebreakers POLAR SEA, POLAR STAR and HEALY. This committee would be sponsored by the Coast Guard and it would be made up of members of the scientific community with recent icebreaker experience and scientific programs in the high latitudes. The committee would provide polar science project planning and scheduling assistance, facilitate communication between scientists, science funders and facility providers and provide oversight and advice to the Coast Guard for the purpose of enhancing and facilitating science aboard their icebreaker fleet. The committee is envisioned to include polar scientists and will solicit and welcome the participation of representatives from the Coast Guard, NSF, ONR, NOAA, USGS and the Arctic Commission. The committee would meet as required, but no less than twice annually, to discuss issues within their charge. The UNOLS DEep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC) could act as a model.

The charge of this committee is to optimize the utilization of U.S. polar science platforms being responsive to the needs of the academic science community as related to scientific programs aboard USCG icebreakers in, both Arctic and Antarctic operations. Specific charges of the committee are:

• Develop a Charter for approval by UNOLS, the Coast Guard and appropriate funding agencies. This Charter, upon approval, would be adopted as an Annex to the UNOLS Charter;
• Participate in initiating and planning polar science projects;
• Provide coordination for icebreaker scientific program scheduling;
• Facilitate liaison between polar scientists and science funding agencies to support icebreaker utilization;
• Respond to requirements relating to the scientific mission for HEALY;
• Provide construction oversight for HEALY's scientific spaces and outfitting;
• Critique science operation for all USCG icebreakers;
• Provide advice on science equipment needs;
• Provide advice on technician support;
• Provide liaison with the Antarctic Research Vessel Science Committee;
• Provide advice concerning International cooperation of scientific programs. and facilities as they relate to high latitude activities.

The committee chair will be an ex-officio member of the UNOLS Council and will keep the Council and the UNOLS membership informed of its activities. The committee will liaison with the UNOLS Fleet Improvement Committee (FIC) and Research Vessel Enhancement Committees (RVTEC) on issues appropriate to these committees.