News & Announcements

Spill from Valdez Marine Terminal

On April 12, a sheen was reported in the vicinity of the Valdez Marine Terminal. The source of the spill was identified as a sump located uphill from Port Valdez. Oil had seeped through the ground to reach the water. All responders have been required to adhere to safety guidelines to mitigate the spread of … Read more

PWSRCAC Board meeting scheduled for May will be virtual only

Update on COVID-19 impacts on Council activities The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a Board meeting on Thursday and Friday, May 7-8, 2020. Today the decision was made by the Board to hold the meeting through virtual attendance only, by video/teleconference. The meeting schedule and agenda will be released … Read more

Council recertified as official citizens’ advisory group in Prince William Sound

The U.S. Coast Guard has recertified the Council as meeting its responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. In a February 25 letter to the Council, Rear Admiral M. T. Bell, Commander of the Coast Guard’s District 17 in Juneau, notified the Council of recertification. The Act requires the Council to be recertified annually … Read more

Council comments on State’s public scoping

The Exxon Valdez oil spill taught many lessons about oil spill prevention and preparedness, such as ensuring responders are better trained ahead of time to use cleanup equipment. The strong rules that resulted from that spill mean better preparedness today.

Yesterday the Council submitted comments on the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s public scoping on the state’s oil spill contingency plans for preventing and cleaning up an oil spill.

“PWSRCAC does not think the regulations are necessarily flawed as they are written. The regulations have proven to be protective of Alaska’s people and environment for decades, and it is critical that the protections written into them not be weakened in any way. It is equally important to maintain transparency, predictability, and specificity required to verify operational needs, which is currently in the  regulations.”

Read the Council’s comments in full:

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