News Releases and Guest Opinions

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2011

The Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council, and BP Alaska invite you to observe the demonstration of a new technology for providing aerial observations during an oil spill. The technology uses a balloon carrying detectors tethered to a vessel. The balloon is a helium filled SkyDoc aereostat that is rated to 80 knots of wind. The camera is a Latitude Engineering Statcam with dual visible (20x zoom) and thermal infrared (2x zoom). We are looking for input on the value of this approach for aerial observation during spill response.
You are invited to observe the balloon and camera system in operation, during an open house demonstration on April 25th. The location will be the Valdez small boat harbor on the tour dock. Additionally, there will be limited opportunities to observe the system fully deployed at sea in the afternoon. RSVP appreciated. Tethered Balloon Surveillance Demonstration

2010

June 18, 2010:
In the Gulf of Mexico, history repeats itself - op-ed by Mark Swanson, executive director of the citizens' council
Alaskans who were here for the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 are surely dismayed by recent events in the Gulf of Mexico.
There, as in Prince William Sound, the oil industry and its government regulators promised Americans the chance of disaster was negligible.
They promised that, if there was a spill, they could clean it up with a minimum of harm.
Once again, they were wrong on both counts.
Read more: In the Gulf of Mexico, history repeats itself (PDF)

March 23, 2010:
Citizens’ council commends Alyeska Pipeline for ice-detection radar’s return to service -
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is hailing Alyeska Pipeline’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System for its work in bringing about repairs to the Sound’s iceberg-detecting radar system.
The system had been out of service since September due to integration problems that arose when the Coast Guard upgraded its own radar equipment at a shared facility on Reef Island.
The iceberg radar resumed service on Sunday, March 14, and since then has been providing a display of the waters between Reef Island and Columbia Bay to Alyeska’s Valdez operations base for SERVS personnel and the tug fleet. Read more: Citizens’ council commends Alyeska Pipeline for ice-detection radar’s return to service (PDF)

March 15, 2010:
Former Valdez Coast Guard commander to head citizen watchdog group - The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council announced today that Mark Swanson has been hired as executive director, effective April 15.
He replaces John Devens, who left the post in February 2009. Since then, Donna Schantz has served as acting executive director. She will now return to her former job as director of programs for the council.
Swanson, who has been serving as an emergency response manager for Shell Oil in Texas, was commander of the Coast Guard’s Valdez Marine Safety Office from 2002 until he retired from the agency in 2005 after a 21-year career.
For more information about Mark Swanson, Former Valdez Coast Guard commander to head citizen watchdog group (PDF).

March 12, 2010:
Immediate action needed to ensure Alyeska fishing vessel fleet is ready for oil-spill response - The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is seeking immediate action to remedy a long-developing crisis in the fishing vessel program that is crucial to oil-spill response in Prince William Sound and adjoining waters: Immediate action needed to ensure Alyeska fishing vessel fleet is ready for oil-spill response (PDF)

February 9, 2010:
Port Graham Corporation joins oil-spill watchdog group
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council has added the Port Graham Corp. to its roster as the group's 19th member entity.
Diane Selanoff, the corporation's vice chairman, was seated as its representative to the council board.
"Our goal is to ensure the proper degree of regulatory oversight is maintained in accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990," Selanoff said.
Read more: Port Graham Corporation joins oil-spill watchdog group (PDF)

January 22, 2010:
Citizens' council lauds handling of Kodiak oil tanker incident
The board of directors of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council voted unanimously on Friday to praise the crews of two Prince William Sound escort tugs that assisted a loaded oil tanker that lost power while leaving the Sound earlier this month. The tugs Aware and Tanerliq took immediate action after a generator failure triggered an engine shutdown on the Exxon tanker Kodiak at Hinchinbrook Entrance early on the morning of Jan. 17. Hinchinbrook Entrance is the narrow channel where ships pass out of the Sound into the Gulf of Alaska. Read more: Citizens' council lauds handling of Kodiak oil tanker incident (PDF)

2009

December 29, 2009: Tug grounding raises troubling questions, reinforces lessons of Exxon Valdez spill, op-ed by Steve Lewis, citizens' council president.
November 5, 2009 News Release: Head of citizens’ group lauds U.S. House passage of Coast Guard bill that will preserve Prince William Sound tanker escorts
August 10, 2009:
Prince William Sound escort tugs protect our common treasure, op-ed by Steve Lewis, citizens' council president.
September 10, 2009 News Release: Citizens' council board to meet in Whittier
July 27, 2009: Citizen oversight would be a boon to all parties for Arctic oil development, op-ed by Steve Lewis, citizens' council president.
July 21, 2009 News Release: Weather Station Installed at Cape St. Elias
May 8, 2009, News Release: Devens resigns as head of citizens' council
February 21, 2009, News Release: Citizens’ council head takes leave of absence

2008
January 29, 2008, News Release: Alaska citizens’ councils file friend-of-the-court brief in Exxon Valdez punitive damages case. See also former Executive Director John Deven's article in the January 2008 Observer: Punitive damages valuable for deterring oil spills.

2006
November 3, 2006, News Release: Citizens' council postpones public information campaign on Valdez air pollution
November 2, 2006, News Release: Citizens group mounts campaign to end hazardous air pollution from Valdez tanker terminal (see related web page: Ballast Water Treatment Facility Air Pollution Public Education Campaign)
May 4, 2006, News Release: Citizens’ group calls for dispersants ban in Prince William Sound
May 4, 2006, News Release: Citizens' council board chooses new officers, seats new member
April 11, 2006, News Release: Citizens' council web site honored
Feb. 8, 2006, Guest Opinion: Nikiski tanker grounding shows need for escort tugs, value of double hulls

2005
June 2, 2005, News Release: Report shows oil industry profits are consistently high in Alaska, even when prices are low
May 27, 2005, News Release: Citizen group goes to court over oil profits report
Documents related to lawsuit
April 4, 2005, News Release: Valdez tour-boat operator elected president of citizens' council

2004
Mar. 24, 2004, News Release:Citizens' group asks EPA for action on air pollution at Valdez tanker terminal

2003
Sept. 22, 2003, News Release: Citizens' council to sponsor firefighter training
May 15, 2003, News Release: Citizens' Group seeks tanker rescue tests in realistic conditions
Mar. 28, 2003, Guest Opinion: Air quality issue deserves thoughtful attention of Alyeska, regulators, and Valdez residents
Mar. 25, 2003, News Release: Citizens' council elects new officers, seats new members

2002
Dec. 20, 2002, News Release: Prince William Sound iceberg radar project comes online
Dec. 10, 2002, News Release: Former Coast Guard officer appointed to citizens' council board
Oct. 31, 2002, Guest Opinion: Kenai incident reminds of need to address response gap
Aug. 30, 2002, Guest Opinion: Pipeline regulators should heed call for citizen oversight
Mar. 19, 2002, News Release: Seldovia representative is new president of citizens' council

2001
Dec. 11, 2001, News Release: Citizens' council installs new board members, recognizes volunteers and staffer for service
Dec. 10, 2001, Guest Opinion: Security measures must strike a reasonable balance
Oct. 26, 2001, News Release: Tower for iceberg-detecting radar system arrives in Prince William Sound
Sept. 26, 2001, Guest Opinion: Windy Bay incident suggests the Sound needs better protection from non-crude spills
Aug. 28, 2001, Guest Opinion: With your help, new planning process will improve oil-spill protection
July 31, 2001, Guest Opinion: It's time to equip downstream communities for self-defense from oil spills

2000
Dec. 5, 2000, Guest Opinion: Sometimes, what is legal may not be what is right for the environment
Mar. 14, 2000, Guest Opinion: French tanker accident provides refresher course in oil-spill lessons

1999
Aug. 16, 1999, Guest Opinion: Despite problems, vapor control system makes Valdez terminal safer, healthier
May 1999 Guest Opinion: A time to stand up for safer tanker operations
Mar. 1999 Guest Opinion: A Valdez Mayor looks back on the event that changed Alaska

1998
Dec. 1998 Guest Opinion: Citizens must be heard during oil-spill response
Sept. 11, 1998, Guest Opinion: Time to go slow on oil dispersants

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