One of the most radical innovations to come out of the Exxon Valdez spill was the establishment of permanent, industry-funded citizen oversight to promote the environmentally safe operation of the oil industry. It’s been 25 years since the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council was formed, and to mark that anniversary, The Observer begins a four-part series documenting the founding and early development of the council.
Month: January 2015
From Alyeska: SERVS’ tugs help tankers dock safely at terminal
On a recent morning, the tug Stalwart pulled away from the SERVS dock, headed out to meet the tanker Alaska Legend as it entered Port Valdez. A dense fog hung over the port and every few minutes, fog horns called out in the distance.
Looking out at the pea-soup, Captain David Sweeney remarked that he’d take his time crossing the bay.
“We’re not in a rush, and it’s a good idea to slow down in the fog.”
Council board of directors met in Anchorage
The council’s board of directors met January 22 and 23, 2015 in Anchorage, Alaska.
The next meeting of the board of directors will be in Valdez on May 7 and 8.
Council board meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions. An opportunity for public comments is provided at the beginning of each meeting. The councils’ board meetings are recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the council or by the news media.
John LeClair: Oil spill response lessons from fighting wildfires
During his summer vacations from college, council volunteer John LeClair got his start in the field that he would come to love. He went to Idaho each summer to work for the Forest Service as a lookout, which evolved into a full time job as a “smokejumper,” or a firefighter who parachutes in to fight forest fires.