Council News

Update on COVID-19 impacts on Council activities

The Council is scheduled to hold a Board meeting on Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18, 2020. The decision was made by the Board to hold the meeting through virtual attendance only, by video/teleconference.

The meeting schedule and agenda will be released the week prior as usual. Information on how to join the teleconference will be provided at that time.

Both Council offices (Anchorage and Valdez) are temporarily closed as a safety precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council staff are conducting business remotely. All other Council meetings are being offered via teleconference only. Information on how to join meetings can be found in individual meeting announcements or by contacting staff.

The health and safety of Council staff and volunteers are our top priority and will drive decisions as the situation evolves and more information becomes available.

Additional updates on COVID-19 impacts to Council activities and other information related to this situation can be found here: COVID-19: Effects on Council activities

The Council will hold a virtual board meeting, via video and teleconference, on Thursday and Friday, May 7-8, 2020. Due to coronavirus concerns, no in-person attendance will be permitted.

Those interested in attending can do so by teleconference (1-888-788-0099, meeting ID: 216 315 997) or video conference. Visual presentations given during the meeting can be streamed live through the videoconference or accessed by download:

• Materials for May 2020 Board of Directors Meeting – Virtual

The tentative schedule for the Thursday session is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Friday, the meeting is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public through the video/teleconference system, except for executive sessions. Public comments are scheduled to be taken on Thursday starting at 9 a.m.

The Council will be conducting regular business during the meeting, including seating of established directors and committee members and election of new board officers. Other topics included on the agenda are:

• An activity report by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company on the Valdez Marine Terminal and Ship Escort/Response Vessel System operations, including impacts to operations from COVID-19 and an update on the current spill situation at the terminal.
• A report on the annual analytical summary and interpretation of the passive sampling device, mussel, and sediment samples taken each summer for the Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program.
• A report on best available technology for towline deployment between oil tankers operating in Prince William Sound and rescue tugboats.
• A report from the Council’s legislative monitors and staff on political developments and prospects coming out of Washington, D.C. and Juneau.

A second, special board meeting is planned for May 21, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., to discuss and approve the Council budget for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2020.

The meeting agenda provided is subject to change before or during the meeting. Council board meetings are routinely recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the Council or by the news media. 

Both Council offices (Anchorage and Valdez) are currently closed as a safety precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the State of Alaska and the City of Anchorage have recently made announcements about their plans to start reopening businesses soon, the Council does not yet plan to reopen either office. As state and city plans continue to progress, the Council will take a very cautious approach to reopening and will send out notifications about when and how the Council offices will do so.

The health and safety of Council staff and volunteers are our top priority and will drive decisions as the situation evolves and more information becomes available.

More information: Updates on COVID-19 impacts to Council activities.