Council conducts audit of maintenance procedures at 
Valdez Marine Terminal
Oil spills along the Alyeska pipeline in 2009 and 2010, along with other less-reported issues at the terminal, have been attributed to underlying maintenance problems. These issues raised concern among the council's board of directors. In response to these concerns, in September of 2010, the council approved a project to verify that maintenance commitments at Valdez Marine Terminal were being identified and met by the current procedures.
Firefighters from Alaska's coastal 
communities meet in Valdez to learn about marine fire response
In early October, seventy-five professional firefighters gathered in Valdez to learn how to respond to a fire aboard a ship. The 2011 Marine Firefighting Symposium, sponsored by the council, provided hands-on training tailored to challenges faced in Alaska.
New volunteer has variety of professional maritime experiences
Kari Anderson, newest member of the council's Port Operations and Vessel Traffic System Committee, has been immersed in Alaska's maritime culture her entire life.
Anderson in Antarctica:
Council expands online vessel monitoring system
In 2006, the council acquired a vessel location monitoring technology known as Automatic Identification System that enabled the council to monitor tanker traffic in Prince William Sound. Recently the council expanded coverage to access the system's data for the waters of Cook Inlet.
Author documenting effects of oil spills on youth
And so, in search of these stories, I have followed the path of the oil to the communities of Cordova, Seldovia, Port Graham, Nanwalek, Kodiak and my own hometown of Homer. It is obvious that the oil affected these coastal places, forever changing ecosystems and economies, communities and kids.
Annual oil spill drill held in Valdez in September
This annual drill tests the industry's ability to respond to an "809 Scenario." The scenario gets its name from the amount of oil the largest tanker that travels through the Sound can hold: 809,080 barrels. The 809 Scenario is considered a worst-case spill for Prince William Sound.
Student expedition studies Sound
For one unforgettable week in July 2011, nine middle school students from Valdez, Cordova, Whittier and Anchorage explored Prince William Sound, living aboard the vessel Babkin, learning from each other about Alaska's diverse communities, and investigating environmental change with local scientists.