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By LINDA ROBINSON
Council Outreach Coordinator

The Port Graham Corporation is the newest member entity of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council. Diane Selanoff is their representative on our board of directors. This past July 29 and 30, executive director Mark Swanson and I visited Port Graham to discuss oil response and prevention issues with the corporation's board of directors and Lloyd Stiassny, president and CEO of the corporation.

On the first day of our visit, the village's annual Celebration of Life was going on. It included day-long family oriented activities and a Native food cook-off. Board member Diane Selanoff was one of the lucky judges! That evening the English Bay Band played at a community gathering. On Saturday, we participated in the corporation's board meeting. We were met with many questions and much interest in the council and our activities. We are looking forward to continuing to communicate with this member organization, and with Diane Selanoff and Lloyd Stiassny, to respond to some of their concerns about spill response and other oil related issues.

Port Graham, a mostly Alutiiq community of about 177 people, predates the Russians who arrived in the 1700s. Residents live primarily a subsistence lifestyle. Port Graham is located southwest of Seldovia, is next to Nanwalek, and is only accessible by plane or boat. A cannery was built in 1911 but burned in 1960. It was rebuilt in 1968 and sold to the village corporation. In 1998 the hatchery and cannery were again destroyed by fire. They were rebuilt again but are currently not in use. There is one school with approximately 20 students, and there is also a health clinic.

In Whittier, Marilynn Heddell, who represents the city on the citizens' council board, assisted Mark Swanson in hosting a lunch for Whittier's mayor, interim city manager, harbormaster and public works director on August 19. The purpose was to update the city on council issues and to see if they had any concerns. Any communities that wish to discuss concerns or interests to the council are welcome to contact me and I can arrange informational meetings in your community.

Approaching scenic Port Graham from the air.

Education kit available

We have received an educational kit from the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve called "Could it Happen Here? Coastal Mapping & Oil Spill Response Activities for Grades 4-7." This kit was used in April for a discovery day lab in Homer and is a multi-station kit that demonstrates habitat mapping, oil spill response activity, and marine animal rescue. This kit will be available for loan to teachers in our region. Requests for council staff to bring the kit and assist with the presentations can be sent to me. And remember that we have two other curriculums on our website.

Volunteers needed!

We are again looking for volunteers to sit on our committees. Committees include Information and Education; Port Operations and Vessel Traffic Systems; Oil Spill Prevention and Response; Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring; and Scientific Advisory. Please contact me if you are interested in joining one of our committees.