News Release

March 19, 2002

Seldovia representative is new president of citizens' council

Steve Lewis of Seldovia was elected president of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council at the group's March quarterly meeting in Anchorage.

Lewis has represented the City of Seldovia on the council since March 1999, and was its vice president before his election to the presidency this month.

The other offices of the council's executive committee were filled as follows:

Vice president: Dennis Lodge, representing the City of Seward.
Secretary: Pete Kompkoff, representing the Community of Chenega.
Treasurer: Jane Eisemann, representing the City of Kodiak.

Members at Large: Stan Stephens, Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association; Paul McCollum, City of Homer;Tom Copeland, Oil Spill Region Environmental Coalition.

Lewis, the new president, holds a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering with a minor in oceanography. He has experience with offshore operations, environmental protection, scientific studies, governmental relations and public relations. His marine experience ranges from operating the world’s largest mobile offshore drilling units in extreme conditions to ocean kayaking in Prince William Sound.

"I think the board now realizes it is necessary to put the animosities engendered by the Exxon Valdez spill behind us and to move forward as a more mature organization," Lewis said. "Our challenge now is to become more business-like and professional while maintaining our strong volunteer basis. I believe that I was elected to help facilitate this growth."

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council is an independent non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and the oil tankers that use it. The council's work is guided by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and its contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The council's 18 member organizations are communities in the region affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, as well as aquaculture, commercial fishing, environmental, Native, recreation, and tourism groups.