Articles from the May issue of The Observer newsletter are now online.
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Valdez students make adjustments to a remotely operated vehicle they designed and built during a recent program by the Prince William Sound Science Center. The students used the vehicles to respond to a mock oil spill. Photo by Kara Johnson. Council and partners work to permit oil spill simulant for response training
Because evaluating the effectiveness of oil recovery efforts during trainings and drills can be difficult, the council has been working to find an appropriate oil simulant. A simulant would mimic oil on water and provide responders with a practice target and help to increase proficiency with response gear and tactics.
Read more: Council and partners work to permit oil spill simulant for response training - Review of proposed contingency plan shows some areas improved, others need more detail
The council has been analyzing proposed changes to the Valdez Marine Terminal Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan during a recent public review.
Read more: Review of proposed contingency plan shows some areas improved, others need more detail - Colder and saltier water increases toxic effects of dispersed oil
Temperature and salinity of water can have an effect on how toxic dispersed oil is to organisms in the environment, a council study has found.
Read more: Colder and saltier water increases toxic effects of dispersed oil - Council studies effects of low level exposure to chemically dispersed crude oil on zooplankton
The long and short term effects of low level exposure to chemically dispersed crude oil on zooplankton needs more research, according to the council’s science committee.
Read more: Council studies effects of low level exposure to chemically dispersed crude oil on zooplankton - Volunteer Spotlight: New council committee member has long history of volunteering in Prince William Sound communities
Harold Blehm, newest member of the council’s Terminal Operations and Vessel Traffic System committee is passionate about using his time to help make Valdez, Prince William Sound, and the Chugach mountains a better place.
Read more: New council committee member has long history of volunteering in Prince William Sound communities - From the Executive Director: Sustaining our resolve to push for improvements in the face of lingering complacency
So, how does one sustain the resolve to push for improvements and to patch the known holes and thin spots in an otherwise sound system of prevention and response?
Perhaps the answer is by focusing on the stark reality of the consequences if we don’t.
Read more: Sustaining our resolve to push for improvements in the face of lingering complacency - From Alyeska Pipeline: Trans Alaska pipeline important to Alaska’s economy
Because the pipeline is so critical for all Alaskans, we all have a role to play toward its successful future.
Read more: Trans Alaska pipeline important to Alaska’s economy - Guest Opinion: Citizens’ council calls for increased oil spill funding
By: Rick Steiner
A universal truth in all major oil spills is that once the oil is spilled, the damage is done. In Alaska, damage from the 1989 Exxon Valdez persists today, 24 years later. In the Gulf of Mexico, serious impacts from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout are well documented, and will almost certainly persist for decades as well. Despite the billions of dollars spent on these two response efforts, both failed to prevent severe, long-term impacts.
Read more: Citizens’ council calls for increased oil spill funding - New deputy director for administration to lead council staff in Anchorage
Former Coast Guard commander Stephen Rothchild has been hired as administrative deputy director for the council.
Read more: New deputy director for administration to lead council staff in Anchorage - Possible funding shortfall for state spill prevention and response on the horizon
Funding for the state agency in charge of oil spill prevention and response is projected to go into the red within three years if no action is taken by the Alaska Legislature.
Read more: Possible funding shortfall for state spill prevention and response on the horizon - Invasive species bill introduced to Alaska legislature
In February, Representative Paul Seaton of Homer introduced House Bill 89 to the Alaska legislature. This bill, if passed, would direct the state’s Department of Fish and Game to set up a plan for an interagency rapid response to an invasion of non-native species. The bill called for funding to support the response efforts.
Read more: Invasive species bill introduced to Alaska legislature - New website technology helps keep public better informed about council issues and activities
The council’s home on the web has recently undergone a major redesign. The new site is designed to help us keep you better informed about our work.
Read more: New website technology helps keep public better informed about council issues and activities - Youth Involvement: Kodiak and Valdez students build remotely controlled vehicles to respond to mock oil spill
In March, educators from the Prince William Sound Science Center took their Discovery Outreach programs on the road to Kodiak and Valdez. They worked with high school and middle school students, teaching them about remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs, and the challenges these vehicles face operating in Arctic ecosystems.
Read more: Kodiak and Valdez students build remotely controlled vehicles to respond to mock oil spill - Valdez graduate chosen to sail with Polar Tankers’ cadet program
A 2010 graduate of Valdez High School, Kathryn “Katie” Miller, was chosen to sail with Polar Tankers, Inc. as a deck officer cadet last fall.
Read more: Valdez graduate chosen to sail with Polar Tankers’ cadet program - Staff attends Coast Guard training on incident command system
Five council staff members participated in U.S. Coast Guard sponsored training on how to manage emergencies such as oil spills. The training events took place in late March and early April.
Read more: Staff attends Coast Guard training on incident command system - Community Corner: Group plans update for oil spill educational curriculum
A group interested in creating new educational materials about oil spills met in the council’s Anchorage office this past March.
Read more: Group plans update for oil spill educational curriculum