News Release

April 4, 2005

Valdez tour-boat operator elected president of citizens' council

Stan Stephens of Valdez was elected president of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council on March 11 at the group's annual meeting in Anchorage. He represents the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association on the council board.

The other offices of the council's executive committee were filled as follows:
Vice president: Steve Lewis, representing Seldovia.
Secretary: Marilynn Heddell, representing the city of Whittier.
Treasurer: Jane Eisemann, representing the city of Kodiak.
Members at large: Connie Stephens, representing the city of Valdez; Blake Johnson, representing the Kenai Peninsula Borough; and Nancy Bird, representing the city of Cordova.

Stephens is a long-time member of the council board, and has previously served as president. He owns Stan Stephens Cruises and Wildlife Tours in Valdez. He replaces Tom Jensen, who had served as board president since March 2004. Jensen, who remains on the board, represents the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.

Stan Stephens and Connie Stephens are not related.

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.

To obtain the text of this news release electronically, or a digital image of Stan Stephens, email a request to: leland@pwsrcac.org or schonberger@pwsrcac.org.