Law could adversely affect fishing vessel response program

In 2023, a Federal law was passed that could affect Alyeska’s contracted fleet of fishing vessels trained to help respond in case of an oil spill in Prince William Sound.

Fishing fleet available for a quick response

When the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened, the response was delayed. Much of the damage could have been lessened if clean-up efforts had started immediately. One of the most important lessons of that spill was that local fishing crews can help with a quick response.

The local fishing crews who joined the 1989 response realized that pulling oil spill boom was similar to pulling a net of fish. They also knew the region’s waters well, and were aware of dangers like shallow areas or changing tides that could leave a vessel stranded, among other hazards.

In the years since the spill, Alyeska formalized this relationship, developing a program to make sure they have a contracted fleet of vessels that are trained, on-call, and immediately available to support a response in case of another spill. Today, Alyeska holds contracts with more than 350 of these vessels. They invest in training for crew members every year to make sure they are always ready to respond.

Alyeska trains the crews to handle oil spill response equipment, tow oil spill boom in proper formation, and tow the small barges used to store the oil and water mix that is recovered during a spill response. They are skilled in deploying, operating, and maintaining this equipment.

A small vessel pulls a bright yellow boom into formation during an exercise. The Valdez Marine Terminal is on shore in the background.
Alyeska responders practice maneuvers in front of the Valdez Marine Terminal. Photo by Nelli Vanderburg.

Consequences for the contracted fishing vessel program

If a real event were to occur, Alaska’s fishing crews would be ready to respond.

However, a section of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 that was intended to exempt fishing vessels from the inspection requirements when working an oil spill was interpreted by Coast Guard to require the vessels to undergo inspections.

These vessels are uninspected and were designed and built specifically for fishing, not oil spill response. These vessels have not been subject to Coast Guard inspection before and many would not be able to meet inspection requirements, meaning they would be excluded from participating in a response.

“Trying to replace uninspected fishing vessels with vessels that meet Coast Guard inspection requirements would completely dismantle the program that has been part of the response system in Prince William Sound for decades,” said Donna Schantz, executive director for the Council. “This would greatly diminish oil spill response capabilities in our region, as well as the entire nation. The trained fleet, made up of contracted local fisherman who understand the waters, are the backbone of the response system and are essential to help mitigate impacts to people, communities, economies, and the environment.”

Workgroup partnership looking for a solution

The Council has been participating in a workgroup to help develop a solution that would allow the current fleet to remain in operation. Members include the Council, Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Alyeska/SERVS, and other industry and oil spill removal organizations across the country.

Anchorage meeting and events, January 23-24

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council will held a Board meeting in Anchorage Thursday and Friday, January 23-24, 2025.

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 a presentation on their Risk and Safety Culture Assessment Management Action Plan Closeout Report.
  • An update from Council staff on the renewal of the Valdez Marine Terminal contingency plan and subsequent request for informal review relating to concerns about analysis of the East Tank Farm secondary containment system liners.
  • A presentation on volatile organic compound and hazardous air pollutant emissions from the 2022 crude oil storage tank vent incident at the terminal.
  • A report on additional information requested by Alyeska related to the Council’s 2023 “Crude Oil Storage Tank Vent Damage” report, which outlines concerns related to worker safety in the aftermath of the 2022 tank vent damage incident.
  • Reports on the results from the Council’s Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2024 sampling for hydrocarbons and a pilot study to analyze 23 metals in sediments collected adjacent to the Valdez Marine Terminal and Gold Creek reference site.

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

Board to meet in Anchorage, January 23-24

Orcas in Prince William Sound by Cathy Hart.

The Council’s Board of Directors will meet in-person in Anchorage, January 23-24, 2025.

The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites (600 East Benson Blvd) and will also be available virtually and telephonically for those unable to travel. Information to join the meeting will be available here prior to the meeting.

Board meetings are open to the public, and an opportunity for the public to provide comments is provided at the beginning of each meeting.

Meeting Documents:View Document
1 00 Final Agenda PWSRCAC Board of Directors Meeting January 23 24, 2025
1 01 Draft Minutes of September 19 20, 2024
1 02 Draft minutes of November 26, 2024 Special Board Meeting
2 01 List of Commonly Used Acronyms
2 02 Budget Status Report as of December 24, 2025
2 03 Director Attendance Record
2 04 Committee Member Attendance Record
2 05 List of Board Committee Members
2 06 One Page Strategic Plan
2 07 List of Recent Board and Executive Committee Actions
2 08 PWSRCAC Organizational Chart
3 01 Five Year Lease Agreement for Multifunctional Copier Printer
3 02 Approval of FY2025 Budget Modifications
3 03 Approval of Transcriptomics Research Contribution to the USGS
4 01 Update on Request for Informal Review on the VMT C Plan
4 03 Presentation Report Acceptance Calculations Used in Tank Vent Headspace Report
4 03 Report Acceptance Calculations Used in Tank Vent Headspace Report
4 04 Approval of Anchorage Office Lease and Relocation
4 05 Presentation Report Acceptance 2024 LTEMP
4 05 Report Acceptance 2024 LTEMP
4 06 PWSRCAC Annual Long Range Plan and Report Acceptance
4 07 Approval of IRS Form 990
4 07 Community Outreach Annual Report PRESENTATION
5 01 January 2025 Program and Project Status Report
Alyeska and SERVS Activity Report
Alyeska Presentation on Risk and Safety Culture Assessment Management Action Plan Closeout Report
CompleteMeetingPacketJan2025

Science Night 2024

Science Night 2024 Science Night is an annual event hosted by the Prince William Regional Citizens Advisory Council. Topics focus on research related to the safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound. The event is hosted in Anchorage in late November/early December. NEW IN 2024!! Several partner organizations hosted watch parties in some of … Read more

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