Changes to how dispersants are authorized for use during an oil spill are being proposed by the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT). The ARRT is a combination of federal, state and local agencies that share responsibilities for managing oil and chemical spill responses in Alaska.
The ARRT is holding a series of public meetings to present information and hear public comment on their draft changes to the plan authorizing the use of chemical dispersants in Alaska waters during an oil spill response. The council encourages all individual citizens and groups that may be concerned about the preauthorization of chemical oil dispersant use in Alaska to attend these forums.
The ARRT will be accepting written comments on the proposed plan through February 14, 2014.
*Public meetings in the council’s geographic area include:
November 15: Anchorage
Held at: Federal Annex Building, 222 West 7th and 8th Avenues
November 18: Kodiak
Held at: Koniag, Inc, 194 Alimaq Dr
November 20: Valdez
City Council Chamber, 212 Chenega St.
Public meetings are 1:00-5:00pm at each location. Visit the ARRT’s meeting information page for more information and to download an agenda for the meeting closest to you.
*Meetings are also scheduled for the communities of Dutch Harbor and King Salmon. Visit the ARRT’s website for more information on those community meetings.