| Coordinates | 69°22′01″N 152°08′39″W |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Borough mayor | Josiah Patkotak |
| State senator | Donald Olson (D) |
| State rep. | Robyn Burke (D) |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Elevation | 259 ft |
| Time zone | Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9) |
| Time zone (DST) | AKDT (UTC-8) |
| FIPS code[1] | 02-80250 |
Umiat (OO-mee-yat) is an unincorporated community in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States.[1] It is located on the Colville River, 140 miles southwest of Deadhorse in the Arctic Circle. The town is not accessible by road or rail, only by air or river.
History
The word "umiat" means boats in the Iñupiaq language.
In 1944, the Naval Oil Reserve was set up and it later became an air force base, which is now closed.[citation needed]
In 1946, the Umiat oil pool was discovered in an anticlinal trap and estimated to hold more than 70 e6oilbbl oil, but was never produced.[2]: 2
In 2009 Governor Parnell budgeted for a proposed road to Umiat branching off of the Dalton Highway.[3]
Umiat has become a center in the summer for research by the BLM and USGS concerning climate change. Research also goes on in the impact that development has on the Arctic tundra. As the NPRA is managed by BLM, they watch the impact that the ice roads and ice-drilling pads have on plant and animal life in the area.
Umiat has no permanent residents, being a camp and fuel stop for aircraft and helicopters operating in the area. The camp is run by a locally owned company that provides oilfield services in the area, their crew consists in the summer of approximately 10 people who work on a two weeks on two weeks off schedule. At any given time, there are between 20 and 30 people lodged and fed there.
The camp operates from the middle of May to the middle of September. The camp has access to the internet, news and entertainment by satellite.
Accommodations are "ATCO" units that are permanently placed; a cafeteria style kitchen is in one of the units.
Climate
Umiat has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dsc), with long, severely cold winters and short summers with warm days but cool nights (despite the midnight sun.) January is the coldest month, and average temperatures remain below 0 °F (−18 °C) until mid-April. Severe cold can persist well into spring; on April 5, 1995, the temperature fell to −50 °F (−46 °C). Precipitation is irregular and snow has occurred in every month but July. Yearly low temperatures run even colder than Utqiaġvik, Alaska on average. Umiat is the weather station with the lowest average annual temperature in the United States.
Transportation
Umiat Airport is a state owned, public use airport located in Umiat.[4]
References
- ^ "Feature Detail Report for: Umiat (populated place)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981.
- ^ David W. Houseknecht, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, William A. Rouse, Palma J. Botterell, Katherine J. Whidden, Christopher P. Garrity, Kristen A. Lewis, Samuel J. Heller, William H. Craddock, Timothy R. Klett, Phuong A. Le, Rebecca A. Smith, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Thomas M. Finn (2017). "Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Cretaceous Nanushuk and Torok Formations, Alaska North Slope, and summary of resource potential of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, 2017". U.S. Geological Survey. Fact Sheet. Bibcode:2017usgs.rept...10H. doi:10.3133/fs20173088
- ^ "Foothills West Transportation Access Project", State of Alaska, Retrieved June 19, 2010
- ^ . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
- "Umiat, Alaska 99790". Prudhoe Bay.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2007.[unreliable source?]
- "Umiat Air Field: Current Conditions". Colville-Watershed.org. GWScientific, LLC. EEInternet, LLC. February 6, 2008. Archived February 6, 2008 at the Wayback Machine.