July 2015 | Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

Internship opportunities for 2015-2016 school year

November 3, 2015July 30, 2015 by Amanda Johnson

Curriculum creator Katie Gavenus (green hat at left) shows Whittier students how oiled water affects bird feathers. Photo by Lisa Matlock. — Alaska Oil Spill Curriculum contractor Katie Gavenus (green hat at left) shows Whittier students how oiled water affects bird feathers.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH INTERNSHIP POSITIONS HAS PASSED. We are no longer taking applications. Thank you for your interest in the council.

The council is currently recruiting for two interns to complete two different projects this school year:

Hydrocarbon Research Intern: The intern will complete a project comparing the historic and present properties of Alaska North Slope crude oil.
Environmental Education Intern: Intern will be trained to present K-12 Oil Spill Curriculum lessons for a variety of ages. The intern will then coordinate and travel to at least five PWSRCAC communities to present lessons to youth.

Both of these internships are appropriate for undergraduate students. The Environmental Education Internship may also be appropriate for a graduate student.

The July 2015 edition of The Observer is now online!

April 5, 2019July 23, 2015 by Amanda Johnson

Cover of July 2015 Observer newsletter The July issue of The Observer newsletter is now available! In this issue, read about firefighters from across Alaska learning to fight fires onboard marine vessels, the results of a study to find out if Port Valdez shrimp are contaminated by oil from the terminal, hear some of the lessons long-time volunteer Pete Heddell learned from the Exxon Valdez spill, and much more:

Firefighters from across Alaska converge on Valdez to learn about marine fire response (7/22/2015)
Executive committee for next year includes a mix of council experience and new members (7/22/2015)
Pete Heddell: Exxon Valdez taught many lessons to those who paid attention (7/22/2015)
How can we combine efforts and verify response capabilities?(7/22/2015)
From Alyeska: Alyeska’s 2015 Atigun Award spotlights health and safety, hearing protection, and communication (7/22/2015)
Community Corner: Sharing our mission with students(7/22/2015)
New law means sustainable funds for spill prevention and response in Alaska (7/22/2015)
Whittier’s Korbe resigns (7/22/2015)
New staff member has deep ties to Alaska (7/22/2015)

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Firefighters from across Alaska converge on Valdez to learn about marine fire response

July 22, 2015 by Amanda Johnson

By Alan Sorum
Council Project Manager

Unalaska and Valdez firefighters at the Valdez harbor. Photo by Zac Schasteen.

A shipboard fire is dreaded by all mariners. When a fire occurs at a dock or a burning ship is brought into port, local fire departments are expected to respond. Since most communities in Alaska are located along a river or the coast, it is prudent to prepare for a vessel related incident.

Techniques used in marine firefighting are quite different than those normally employed in structural fires on land. To better prepare land-based firefighters for such incidents, the council developed the Marine Firefighting Symposium which is held every two years. This past May, the council hosted the eighth edition of this symposium in Valdez.

Thirty-eight firefighters from 14 different Alaska communities, ten marine fire and salvage industry representatives, and fire officials from Alyeska, attended the three-day event.

Executive committee for next year includes a mix of council experience and new members

July 22, 2015 by Amanda Johnson

During its annual board meeting in Valdez this May, the council board held elections to choose its seven-member executive committee.

Amanda Bauer of Valdez was elected to her third term as president. Thane Miller, who represents Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation on the board, was elected to his third consecutive term as vice-president. Bob Shavelson, who represents the Oil Spill Region Environmental Coalition, was re-elected as secretary. Newly seated Orson Smith of Seward was elected as treasurer.