The Council is inviting proposals for a project to review cathodic protection system testing protocols at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT). The goal of this project is to ensure cathodic protection data is being collected in a manner consistent with the Association for Materials Protection and Performance protocols to have an accurate assessment of current cathodic protection levels of steel structures at the VMT.
Members of the public watch vessels practice pulling oil spill boom in proper formation. This formation would be used to collect oil during an oil spill.
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council held a tour for locals to observe the annual oil spill response training for fishing vessels in Whittier, Alaska, on Sept. 30, 2024. This has been an annual event since 2016, rotating through several communities in the region, though it was postponed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Whittier community was invited to join the council from 11:30 to 2 p.m., on a Stan Stephens Cruises vessel to observe the training. Over 90 members of the public participated in the event, including students from the Whittier Community School.
Whittier resident, Chase, age 12, stated about the event, “There are so many people participating and wanting to learn on this boat, learning about this to help protect our environment. Plus watching all those boats do their job in helping protect the environment. I think it’s pretty cool.”
The local fishermen and women participating in the training are contracted by the Ship Escort Response Vessel System, also known as SERVS, to respond in the event of an oil spill from a Prince William Sound tanker or the Valdez Marine Terminal. SERVS is Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s oil spill removal organization and coordinates annual spill response exercises in multiple Southcentral Alaska communities, including Whittier.
This Council event helps keep communities informed on what oil spill prevention and response measures are in place in Prince William Sound and downstream communities, especially those involving their local fishers. Whittier residents learned about oil spill response technology, tactics and how this program helps Alyeska operate safely in Prince William Sound. Narrators from both the Council and Alyeska were on board to describe the activities so that participants could better understand the training. We would like to thank our partners, Alyeska/SERVS and Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises, for helping to support this event.
“I think that’s very cool for [students] to see people from their community taking part in an activity like this,” said Whittier school teacher Jennifer Childress. “Knowing what a special and important place Prince William Sound is, it’s important to have people be trained and ready to go in case an awful event like an oil spill happens. To have local people involved in that and as a teacher to have students see that they could have a place in that and be a part of that as they get older, is very important.”
Alyeska’s contracted fishing fleet is the backbone of their oil spill response system. It is essential to the system operating as it was designed to do and part of what makes the Prince William Sound system world-class. These contracted vessels and their crews help ensure the most comprehensive oil spill response measures are in place for both open water and nearshore resources. A major lesson of the Exxon Valdez oil spill was that incorporating local mariners into the spill response system helps ensure a quick, efficient and effective response.
Since the inception of SERVS after the Exxon Valdez spill, the Council has been highly supportive of local fishers and mariners being trained annually with the best available technology to prepare for oil spills. Whittier mariners have the most intimate knowledge of, and connection to, the waters in and around Whittier. Their involvement would help protect the most sensitive areas, such as hatcheries and spawning streams, from spilled oil.
Whittier school student, Ana, 12, said about the event, “I think it’s good to protect our marine wildlife and [this event] creates awareness.”
The Council has held previous fishing vessel oil spill response training tours in Valdez, Seward, Cordova and Homer. The Council hopes that through such programs communities will understand the importance of oil spill prevention and having the most robust response strategies in place in the event of a spill.
”It’s especially important for local fishing vessels to participate in the system,” said Kathy Shea, one of several representatives from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Spill Prevention and Response Division on board the tour. “They know the water, they’re out here fishing on a regular basis and they rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. They want to pass down a clean environment to their families in the future, so having them on our team is hugely advantageous for spill response.”
Additional photos are available for use on request by contacting Brooke Taylor at brooke.taylor@pwsrcac.org or 907-301-3784.
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, with offices in Anchorage and Valdez, is a federally mandated, independent nonprofit corporation whose mission is to promote the environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and the oil tankers that use it. The council’s work is guided by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and its contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The council’s member organizations are communities in the region affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, as well as commercial fishing, aquaculture, Alaska Native, recreation, tourism and environmental groups.
The Council is seeking skilled and experienced applicants for the IT/Admin Assistant position in Anchorage!
We are seeking an IT and administrative professional with expertise in hardware, software, and digital platforms. Their role will be to maintain the reliable operation of our IT systems, ensuring they function efficiently and securely, as well as provide document management, and general office coordination and administrative support. This position will contribute to our mission of promoting the environmentally safe operations at the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers.
The IT/Admin Assistant responsibilities include:
Provide IT support to staff members and maintain positive work relationships.
Manage and maintain equipment, including tracking inventory, soliciting quotes, and developing replacement plans.
Oversee equipment support agreements, software subscriptions, and domain registrar accounts.
Administer and procure software, including managing accounts and tracking licenses.
Collaborate with the IT contractor to oversee security and network activities and develop security policies.
Oversee network infrastructure, Active Directory, and database management.
Develop and implement IT policies, procedures, and security protocols, and coordinate staff training.
Perform general administrative tasks such as mail processing, inventory management, and participating in the emergency response team.
Act as the administrator of the digital document management program.
Collaborate with members of the document management inputting team to upload and digitize archival documents.
Assist with updating contingency plan manuals and electronic copies, and any spreadsheets to track updates.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience, plus IT training and certification. A minimum of 2 years of IT or general administrative experience, or lesser experience if an approved training and education program is in place.
This is a non-exempt position with a starting base hourly wage of $ 26.70/hr + DOE. After 60 days of successful employment, an additional 25% of base pay is added for optional benefits, bringing total compensation to $ 33.37/hr.
During the application process, you will be asked to upload the following:
Current resume.
Cover letter. Your cover letter should address the reasons you feel your education, work experience, and career goals are a good match for this position and why you want to work for the PWSRCAC.
List of references. The list of references should include at least three professional references with contact information.
Finalists may be subject to criminal and credit background checks and verification of education and past employment.
Open until filled – first review of IT/Admin Assistant applicants: October 9, 2024.
The Council was formed in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill with the mission of promoting the environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and the associated tankers. The Council has an annual operating budget around $4.2M with a total staff of 18 and over 50 volunteers.
The Council held three events in Kodiak on Wednesday through Friday, September 18-20, 2024, including the Council’s annual board meeting, a youth education event and a public reception.
The Council conducted regular business during the meeting, including updates from Council ex officio members, staff and committees. Other topics included on the agenda were:
An activity report by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company on the Valdez Marine Terminal and Ship Escort Response Vessel System operations, including an update on Alyeska’s efforts to address concerns identified in the Council’s report “Assessment of Risks and Safety Culture at Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal.”
A presentation by representatives from Repsol, partners with Santos, on the Pikka Project as it will relate to the Valdez Marine Terminal.
A report on describing a hotspot analysis of marine bird survey data conducted in Prince William Sound during March 2007-2014 and 2018-2023.
A summary of data analyzed from the Council’s weather buoys located near the Valdez Marine Terminal and Valdez Duck Flats.
Information on the Council’s ongoing review of the pilot testing to identify methods to evaluate the secondary containment liners at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
An update on a major amendment on the Prince William Sound Tanker Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan, approved in June 2024.
A report on a broadscale survey of non-indigenous marine species across Prince William Sound, conducted in summer 2023.
A presentation on an ongoing Council project to examine miscommunication in maritime contexts.
Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, flu, or cold should attend virtually.
Council board meetings are routinely recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the Council or by the news media.
The Council is seeking skilled and experienced applicants for the IT/Admin Assistant position in Anchorage!