Committees Introduction
Council volunteers and staff are provided an opportunity to tour the Valdez Marine Terminal each year.
Much of the council’s work is done through permanent volunteer technical committees made up of board members, technical experts, and local citizens with an interest in making oil transportation safer in Alaska.
These standing committees work with staff on projects, study and deliberate current oil transportation issues, and formulate their own advice and recommendations to the council's full board of directors.
Our committees provide an avenue for public participation in the council’s work.
The council has five technical committees that provide advice and recommendations to the council’s board of directors. Committees work closely with staff to advance projects. Committees often work with representatives of Alyeska, other industry groups, regulatory agencies, and other outside groups on special projects and in working groups. However, committees have no authority independent of the council.
Are you familiar with oil spill planning or response, marine science or engineering, journalism, mass communication or public relations? We need committee volunteers with knowledge in these areas! Please consider volunteering for the council. More information on our volunteer opportunities.
Standing Technical Committees
The standing committees that advise the Board of Directors are organized by program area:
- Oil Spill Prevention and Response
- Port Operations and Vessel Traffic System
- Scientific Advisory
- Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring
- Information and Education
Oil Spill Prevention and Response Committee
The Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Committee works to minimize the risks and impacts associated with oil transportation through strong spill prevention and response measures, adequate contingency planning, and effective regulations. The OSPR Committee reviews oil spill response plans (contingency plans); monitors state and federal laws and regulations; monitors and participates in oil spill drills; and investigates developments in prevention, containment, response, and cleanup technology. Support staff for the OSPR Committee is located in Anchorage.
The committee worked hard to develop an effective nearshore response strategy and ensured that downstream communities have access to response resources to protect their communities.
Contact Serena Lopez for more information about the OSPR committee.
Members
Chair: *John French, City of Seward
Vice Chair: Gerald Brookman, Kenai
David Goldstein, Whittier
Joe Jabas, Anchor Point
John LeClair, Anchorage
*Walter Parker, Anchorage
Gordon Scott, Girdwood
*John Velsko, Homer
(* council director)
Visit the Outreach section of this site for Volunteer Information.
Port Operations and Vessel Traffic Systems Committee
The Port Operations and Vessel Traffic Systems (POVTS) Committee monitors port and tanker operations in Prince William Sound. POVTS identifies and recommends improvements in the vessel traffic navigation systems and monitors the vessel escort system. The committee was instrumental in the addition of two Enhanced Tractor Tugs and three Prevention and Response Tugs that defined the Prince William Sound oil transportation corridor as a world-class escort system.
Contact Anna Carey for more information about the POVTS committee.
Members
Chair: Bob Jaynes, Valdez
Kari Anderson, Seward
Duane Beland, North Pole
Cliff Chambers, Seward
Bill Conley, Valdez
*Pat Duffy, AK State Chamber of Commerce, Valdez
*Jane Eisemann, City of Kodiak Pete Heddell, Whittier
(* council director)Visit the Outreach section of this site for Volunteer Information.
Scientific Advisory Committee
The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) sponsors independent scientific research and provides scientific assistance and advice to the other RCAC committees on technical reports, scientific methodology, data interpretation, and position papers. The SAC maintains a database of scientific experts and coordinates with other related organizations. More so than the other committees, SAC members are selected on the basis of specific fields of scientific expertise.
SAC mission statement: "Scientists and citizens promoting the environmentally safe operation of the terminal and tankers through independent scientific research, environmental monitoring, and review of scientific work."
Contact Serena Lopez for more information about the SAC.
Members
Chair: Dr. John Kennish (Environmental Analytical Chemistry), Anchorage
Co-Chair: Dr. Mark Udevitz, (Biometrics) Anchorage
*Dr. John French (Biological Chemistry), City of Seward
Dr. Roger Green (Applied Marine Ecology), Hope
*Dorothy M. Moore, Valdez
Dr. Debasmita Misra, (Hydrological Engineering) Fairbanks
Dr. Dave Musgrave (Physical Oceanographer) Palmer
Dr. Paula Martin (Aquatic Ecology, Toxicology & Invertebrates Sustainability) Soldotna
(*council director).
Visit the Outreach section of this site for Volunteer Information.
Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring Committee
The Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring (TOEM) Committee identifies actual and potential sources of episodic and chronic pollution at the Valdez Marine Terminal. Most of the TOEM Committee's work focuses on ballast water treatment and its impact on water quality in Port Valdez, and on air quality issues stemming from hydrocarbons emitted during tanker loading and other facility operations.
TOEM Committee monitors and comments on air and water quality standards, reviews operating permits at the terminal, and conducts independent research. Early air health studies promoted by the committee led to vapor recovery at the terminal to drastically reduce air pollution.
Contact Anna Carey for more information about the TOEM committee.
Members
Chair: Bob Benda, Valdez
Jo Ann Benda, Valdez
*Stephen Lewis, City of Seldovia
George Skladal, Anchorage
Stan Stephens, Valdez
*Rochelle van den Broek, City of Cordova
(* council director).
Visit the Outreach section of this site for Volunteer Information.
Information and Education Committee
PWSRCAC's Information and Education Committee was formed from an education working group, which started meeting in 2007. While the working group focused on specific projects, the committee adopted an overall focus on education and information.
Mission Statement: Support the council’s work by fostering public awareness, responsibility and participation through information and education.
Contact Serena Lopez for more information about the IEC.
Committee Members:
*Patience Andersen Faulkner, Cordova, Chair
Kate Alexander, Cordova Co-Chair
Savannah Lewis, Seldovia
*Jane Eisemann, Kodiak
*Cathy Hart, Anchorage
Ruth E. Knight, Valdez
(* council director)Visit the Outreach section of this site for Volunteer Information.
Project Teams
Project teams may consist of staff, board members and committee volunteers with a particular expertise or interest. They provide focused input and direction for existing projects to ensure that deadlines are met and that board and committee advice is available to assist in the development of work products. PWSRCAC contractors involved in specific projects may also be included in a project team except during discussions of contracting issues such as, but not limited to, development of RFPs and selection of contractors.
Project teams meet on a frequent, as needed basis and their work efforts may include, but are not limited to, reviewing contractor proposals and participating in contractor selection for board and/or executive director approval; reviewing contractor project scope, materials, reports and other deliverables; and providing input and direction on specific or general project elements.
Project team efforts are advisory only and report to the PWSRCAC technical committee assigned to the particular project(s) for additional input, development, and for final recommendation to the full board or Executive Committee. Examples of PWSRCAC project teams include: C-Plan Project Team, Dispersants Project Team, and the LTEMP Project Team.
Work Groups
Work groups may be set up by PWSRCAC, industry or regulators as an external multi-stakeholder process to help develop and guide a project, regulation, statute or general concept. A work group should operate with a specific mission statement and protocols for meetings, communications, and responsibilities.
Work groups may consist of PWSRCAC staff, board members, committee volunteers, and/or contractors along with industry representatives and regulators, non-governmental organization representatives and citizens with a particular expertise or interest needed to provide input and direction. Work group efforts are reported to the PWSRCAC technical committee assigned to the particular project(s) as well as any relevant project teams for additional input, development, and direction. Efforts and products of work groups may be made highly visible outside of PWSRCAC.
PWSRCAC representatives on a work group must seek approval of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee on positions and/or work products prior to making a commitment on behalf of PWSRCAC, unless a previously approved position exists.
Examples of work groups include ice detection work group (sponsored by PWSRCAC), fire symposium work group (sponsored by PWSRCAC), ballast water treatment work group (sponsored by ADEC), and the non-indigenous species work group (sponsored by PWSRCAC).
