News & Announcements Archives | Page 18 of 74 | Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

Council Board met January 27-28

August 17, 2023December 22, 2021 by Amanda Johnson

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council held a virtual board meeting on Thursday and Friday, January 27-28, 2022.

MEETING INFORMATION: Links to meeting agenda and materials for January 27 and 28, 2022 meeting

The Council conducted regular business during the meeting, including updates from Council ex-officio members, staff and committees. Other topics on the agenda were:

An activity report by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company on the Valdez Marine Terminal and Ship Escort/Response Vessel System operations.
An overview on Council comments to be submitted to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on the proposed changes to regulations related to oil spill contingency planning.
An update on the budget for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response and current challenges facing the division.
A briefing from Council staff on the status of the Prince William Sound Tanker Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan renewal.
An update on West Coast shipping operations from Marathon Petroleum.
An overview of the work conducted by the Council to monitor the environmental impacts of the Valdez Marine Terminal spill which occurred on April 12, 2020.
A summary of a review to determine if the Council should support Alyeska’s appeal asking that parts of an Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding emissions standards not be applicable to the terminal.
A presentation on aerial forage fish surveys conducted in Prince William Sound in June of 2021.
A report of the Council’s monitoring of drills and exercises in 2021.
A summary by Council staff of incidents (e.g., oil spills, fires, malfunctions causing shutdowns, navigational closures, tanker/escort incidents) at the terminal, on Ship Escort/Response Vessel System tugs and barges or on associated tankers that occurred in 2021.

Council board meetings are routinely recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the Council or by the news media.

Updates on COVID-19 impacts to council activities.

Community Corner: Committee volunteer recognized for achievements in conservation

August 17, 2023December 9, 2021 by Betsi Oliver

Council volunteer Kate Morse recently received a Conservation Achievement Award from Alaska Conservation Foundation. These prestigious awards recognize individuals and organizations committed to protecting Alaska. The Council was proud to support Kate’s nomination for the Jerry S. Dixon Award for Excellence in Education, which rewards educators who integrate stewardship of Alaska’s natural environment.

A journey through time: New Council report documents history of tanker contingency plan

January 11, 2024December 7, 2021 by Amanda Johnson

Graphic that says: From 1000s of documents, researchers summarized 43 events that substantially changed contingency plans and 17 recurring issues. — **Read the report:** History of Tanker Contingency Plan

Thousands of pages of documents. Countless meetings and workgroups. Over thirty years of oil spill drills and exercises.

That’s what you’d previously have to dig through to truly understand the oil spill contingency plan for Prince William Sound’s tankers.

Not anymore. A new report has now distilled that history down into one report.

The Council partnered with experts at Nuka Research and attorney Breck Tostevin to comb through decades of letters, reports, and meeting notes. They were looking for details on how the plan, and the regulations that shaped the plan, developed.

Study shows purpose-driven design can improve performance

January 8, 2024November 23, 2021 by Amanda Johnson

When a ship is disabled at sea, an appropriate rescue vessel must respond quickly to prevent an accident. Towing can be dangerous, especially in rough weather, because the rescue tug must get close to connect a towline.

Challenging environment in Alaska

Map showing the tanker traffic lane. The tankers must pass through a relatively narrow area between Hinchinbrook and Montague Islands when entering or leaving Prince William Sound to or from the Gulf of Alaska. A rescue tug with the right features has the best chance of preventing a spill. — Alaska requires a tug stationed in the vicinity of Hinchinbrook Entrance, the narrow waterway which connects Prince William Sound to the Gulf of Alaska. The tug remains on standby to assist or escort tankers through the entrance and out into the Gulf of Alaska.

Hinchinbrook Entrance is a narrow waterway that connects Prince William Sound to the Gulf of Alaska. The weather and sailing conditions in the gulf can change rapidly and are often severe.

Tankers carrying millions of gallons of oil regularly pass through the Entrance. Alyeska’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System must have a tug stationed at the Entrance when laden tankers travel through Prince William Sound.