The Alaska State Legislature has passed a resolution urging the United States Congress and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the frequent outages of National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) meteorological and ocean stations in the state. These stations are crucial for collecting real-time data that ensures maritime safety, particularly given Alaska's extensive coastline and reliance on marine commerce, fishing, and tourism. The resolution highlights the critical role of the Seal Rocks Buoy, which has experienced multiple outages, impacting the ability of the U.S. Coast Guard to make informed weather-related closure decisions for oil tanker traffic in Prince William Sound. The resolution emphasizes the potential safety risks posed by these outages, including the increased danger to vessels and crews navigating in adverse conditions.

The resolution calls for Congress to include provisions in appropriations legislation that would enhance the reliability of NDBC stations and ensure their full functionality. It also urges NOAA to collaborate with Alaska's congressional delegation to develop regulations that address the unique challenges of maritime safety in the state, taking into account its remote nature and extreme weather conditions. The resolution aims to maintain and improve the critical public services provided by NOAA, which are essential for safe navigation and the protection of Alaska's environment and economy.