Study Throws Cold Water on Arctic Oil, Gas Dreams. A Greenpeace picture shows activists holding a banner in front of the Gazprom 'Prirazlomnaya' oil drilling platform in the Barents Sea on August 25. The Arctic, often presented as the promised land by oil companies, is likely to play only a marginal role in providing for the planet's future energy needs, a Norwegian study claimed Tuesday. Phys.Org 

4,000 Tons of Waste Removed from Arctic Island. According to representatives of the National Park "Russian Arctic", the cleanup operation is part of a government program designed to clear Franz Josef Archipelago of technology-generated waste which accumulated in the Arctic between 1930 and 1990. A complete removal of waste from Alexandra Land Island, which is located in Franz Josef Land, is slated for the end of 2014. Voice of Russia 

Toxic Threat Exercise Wraps Up Operation: Emergency response involves multiple players as Nanook demonstrates Arctic sovereignty. More than 200 Canadian military personnel, Canadian Rangers and RCMP officers responded to a potential toxic chemical threat in Tsiigehtchic last week - although the threat was in reality a fictional scenario staged by the military for the Western Arctic portion of Operation Nanook 2012. However, the purpose of the operation has less to do with the actual incident chosen and more to do with demonstrating the Canadian military's ability to respond to remote Northern communities, said one of the military's top brass who was involved in the operation. Northern News Service 

New Arctic Oil Terminal Planned in Finnmark. Kirkenes can become the gateway to all the new Arctic shipping lanes that opens as the sea-ice melts away and new icebreaking tankers are designed, reports the Barents Observer. "We believe Gamneset is the best location in Sør-Varanger," Jacob B. Stolt-Nielsen told the BarentsObserver. He owns the newly established Norterminal AS, the company to build what they call the "new strategic oil-terminal in Finnmark." Gamneset is located near Kirkenes main airport in a fjord that shelters a possible new harbor and terminal facilities from the open and rough Barents Sea. Russian waters are just a few hours away. TankTerminals 

Scientists Explore Changing Arctic Ocean. Scientists are setting sail on August 25 to study ocean acidification in the Arctic and what this means for the future survival of marine and terrestrial organisms. The Arctic Ocean is one of the most vulnerable places on the planet for acidification, yet it is the least-explored ocean. Acidification can disturb the balance of marine life in the world's oceans, and consequently affect humans and animals that rely on those food resources. Ocean acidification is particularly harmful to organisms such as corals, oysters, crabs, shrimp and plankton, as well as those up and down the food chain. Higher acidity decreases an organism's calcification rate, meaning they lose their ability to build shells or skeletons. The USGS is leading this project, and this is the third consecutive year of research. On this year's expedition, scientists will travel onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy for four weeks, collecting water and ice samples. US Geological Survey 

Fewer Ringed Seals Being Seen in Canadian Arctic. Hunters in Canada's eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut say they're seeing fewer ringed seals than they used to. It's a worrisome trend for people whose livelihood depends on the animals. For the last several years, Nunavut hunters said they are finding fewer and fewer ringed seals. "For hunters like us, the only way we can make some money is by selling sealskins," said Tuumasie Newkingak, a hunter from Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. Alaska Dispatch 

First Northern Urbanization Conference Called a Success. Delegates to the first-ever conference on northern urbanization are describing the event as a success. The Conference on Urbanization in the Arctic drew academics and officials from across the circumpolar world to Nuuk, Greenland, this past week. They talked about everything from urban design to climate change. Keith Storey from Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador said it was great to share knowledge at the conference with people from around the world. CBC News