The following list contains links to various PWSRCAC information and resources that were mentioned during the National Academies Workshop 1: Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange: Evaluating Socio-economic Impacts of Oil Spills, Advancing Transformative Recovery, and Enhancing Proactive Preparedness.
Please contact Amanda Johnson if you’d like more information about the Council or any of the resources below.
About the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC)
- Involving citizens: The 1989 Exxon Valdez experience demonstrated that the oil industry could learn from people who live and work in the region affected by the terminal and tanker operations. A moral imperative also emerged from the Exxon Valdez spill: those people with the most to lose from oil pollution must have a voice in the decisions that put their livelihoods and communities at risk.
- The Council’s 20 Board members represent 19 member entities. The member entities are Alaska communities and organizations that were affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, including aquaculture, commercial fishing, environmental groups, Alaska Native communities, recreation, and tourism. Board members are volunteers who are nominated by the member entity to serve two-year terms.
- The Council has five technical committees made up of volunteers who focus on various aspects of the oil transportation industry in Prince William Sound.
- Effectiveness Of Citizen Involvement – A 2006 white paper by Linda Robinson summarizing how the Council came to be, our responsibilities, and our programs and committees. “We were formed in a climate of adversity, but we have learned that working together in partnership is better and more productive and that it is important to give praise as well as criticism.” – Linda Robinson, 2006. See also: History of the Council
- Funding
- Contract with Alyeska – This contract guarantees annual funding for the Council and ensures absolute independence from Alyeska (the consortium of oil industry companies who owns the Trans Alaska Pipeline and oil terminal in Valdez). The contract is in effect as long as oil flows through the pipeline.
- Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) – Through OPA 90, Congress mandated citizens’ councils for Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet as a method to combat complacency.
Personal stories and oral histories from the Exxon Valdez oil spill
- The Spill: In 2009, the Council produced a comprehensive oral history of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Council has limited free copies available, please contact Outreach Coordinator Maia Draper-Reich for a paperback copy.
- Exxon Valdez Project Jukebox: Oral histories recorded in of the Exxon Valdez oil spill archived at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Project Jukebox
- Stories from a Citizens’ Council: These stories help us understand how citizens and the oil industry rallied together to create an oversight group to protect Prince William Sound from future oil spills.
Highlighted resources
- Coping with Technological Disasters: The “Coping with Technological Disasters” guidebook and appendices contains science-based strategies to help ease the invisible impacts of oil spills, and help local governments, small businesses, families, and individuals cope with these disruptions. One of the guidebook’s appendices, the Peer Listener Manual was updated in 2023. The latest version of the manual reflects the current understanding of peer-to-peer support and active listening. The guidebook and manual are both based on work originally done by Dr. Steve Picou, a leading researcher in the field of disasters and mental health who studied both the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills.
- How Alaskans reimagined oil spill prevention and response: This article and report (link in the article) tells the story of how Alaskans came together in the disaster’s aftermath to change the laws governing oil spill response in Alaska.
- Regional Stakeholders’ Committee (RSC) Resources: The RSC is a group of individuals invited to share their local knowledge with the agency and company representatives that will manage an oil spill response in Alaska. The Council developed these resources to support RSC members to effectively represent their communities.
- Training local mariners to help respond to a spill before an incident occurs: Alyeska hold contracts with local mariners to respond in case of a spill. The mariners are paid to participate in the annual training. See also: Whittier community engages with on-water oil spill response training
- Monitoring changes to oil spill contingency plans: An oil spill contingency plan contains detailed information on how oil companies will prevent and/or respond to an oil spill. Only when local citizens are involved in the process will the trust develop that is necessary to proceed from confrontation to consensus.
- Geographic Response Strategies (GRS): GRS are map-based oil spill response plans tailored to protect specific sensitive areas. By selecting and mapping these areas in advance, these strategies can save time during the critical first few hours of oil spill response.
PWSRCAC’s Work
The Council’s influence depends on quality, accurate research. The Council regularly retains experts to conduct independent research on oil transportation safety and the environmental impacts of the Valdez Marine Terminal and tankers.
- Reports Compendium: Updated in 2024 – This compendium highlights major research sponsored by the Council.
- Recent reports: A list of recently released reports and documents.
Outreach and Education
The Council works to increase public awareness of the oil spill prevention, response, and environmental protection capabilities in Prince William Sound, as well as the environmental impacts of the Alyeska terminal and tanker operations.
- Outreach: The Council’s staff and volunteers visit communities in the Council’s region, attend group member functions, give presentations, coordinate special events involving member groups, exhibit and present at conferences, and encourage citizen involvement in the Council’s work.
- Lesson Bank: The Council offers free lesson plans on topics related to oil spill prevention and response.
- Youth Involvement: The Council provides funds of up to $5,000 to educators for programs and projects related to our mission.