The Coast Guard has recertified the citizens’ council as meeting its responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. In a March 15 letter to the council, Rear Admiral, T.P. Ostebo, commander of the Cost Guard’s District 17 in Juneau, notified the council of recertification. The 1990 Act requires the council to be recertified annually as the official citizens’ advisory group to the oil industry in Prince William Sound. Guidelines established in 2002 streamlined the recertification process for two out of three years, with every third year requiring stricter procedures. That process- known as comprehensive recertification – was used this year. The new recertification expires February 28, 2015. At that time, the council is scheduled to undergo the streamlined version of recertification.
The council received over 70 letters of support from organizations, agencies, businesses, Native corporations, and members of the public during the recertification process.