Volunteering with PWSRCAC

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Council volunteers work hard, and have fun.

Are you familiar with oil spill planning or response, marine science or engineering, journalism, mass communication or public relations? We need committee volunteers with knowledge in these areas!

The council is actively recruiting volunteers for the following committees:  Port Operations and Vessel Traffic System (POVTS), Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring (TOEM), and the Information and Education (IEC) committees.  Please see committee descriptions below for more information on the work of each committee.

Committee volunteers are appointed by the board in an annual application process, completed in consultation with committee chairs and staff.

Volunteers are appointed for staggered two-year terms. Each committee has at least one member from the council’s board of directors. This committee structure is stipulated in the council’s bylaws and in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

Most committees meet every 4-6 weeks and often by teleconference because many members live in remote Alaskan communities. Most members donate anywhere from 5 to 10 hours per month, although this varies by committee.  Committee members must reside in the state of Alaska.

For information on volunteering, contact Outreach Coordinator Linda Robinson at 907.273.6235.

Download a volunteer application (pdf/11KB)

More information on the committees, project teams and workgroups.

• OSPR
• POVTS
• SAC
• TOEM
• IEC

Oil Spill Prevention and Response Committee

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The Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Committee works to minimize the risks and impacts associated with oil transportation through strong spill prevention and response measures, adequate contingency planning, and effective regulations. The OSPR Committee reviews oil spill response plans (contingency plans); monitors state and federal laws and regulations; monitors and participates in oil spill drills; and investigates developments in prevention, containment, response, and cleanup technology. Support staff for the OSPR Committee is located in Anchorage.

The committee worked hard to develop an effective nearshore response strategy and ensured that downstream communities have access to response resources to protect their communities.

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Port Operations and Vessel Traffic Systems Committee

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The Port Operations and Vessel Traffic Systems (POVTS) Committee monitors port and tanker operations in Prince William Sound. POVTS identifies and recommends improvements in the vessel traffic navigation systems and monitors the vessel escort system. The committee was instrumental in the addition of two Enhanced Tractor Tugs and three Prevention and Response Tugs that defined the Prince William Sound oil transportation corridor as a world-class escort system.

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Scientific Advisory Committee

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The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) sponsors independent scientific research and provides scientific assistance and advice to the other RCAC committees on technical reports, scientific methodology, data interpretation, and position papers. The SAC maintains a database of scientific experts and coordinates with other related organizations. More so than the other committees, SAC members are selected on the basis of specific fields of scientific expertise.

SAC mission statement: "Scientists and citizens promoting the environmentally safe operation of the terminal and tankers through independent scientific research, environmental monitoring, and review of scientific work."

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Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring Committee

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The Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring (TOEM) Committee identifies actual and potential sources of episodic and chronic pollution at the Valdez Marine Terminal. Most of the TOEM Committee's work focuses on ballast water treatment and its impact on water quality in Port Valdez, and on air quality issues stemming from hydrocarbons emitted during tanker loading and other facility operations.

TOEM Committee monitors and comments on air and water quality standards, reviews operating permits at the terminal, and conducts independent research. Early air health studies promoted by the committee led to vapor recovery at the terminal to drastically reduce air pollution.

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Information and Education Committee

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PWSRCAC's Information and Education Committee was re-formed in 2008 from a previous education working group.  While the working group focused on specific projects, the new committee adopted an overall focus on education and information.

PWSRCAC's lead Project Manager for the Information and Education Committee is Linda Robinson.

IEC Mission Statement:

“Supporting PWSRCAC’s mission by fostering public awareness, responsibility, and participation through information and education”