News & Announcements

Your input is needed on Prince William Sound oil spill contingency plans!

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Environmental Protection Agency are seeking public input for proposed changes to the Prince William Sound Subarea Contingency Plan for Oil and Hazardous Substance Spills and Releases.

These subarea plans supplement the statewide oil spill contingency plan, known as the “Unified Plan,” by concentrating on issues and provisions specific to Prince William Sound. The current plan for Prince William Sound can be found on the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s website.

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Council meeting in Valdez

The council’s board of directors met in Valdez on May 1 and 2, 2014.

On the agenda:

The council conducted an election of officers, orientation for new volunteers, and seated volunteers on the established committees.

Topics on the agenda included:

• Adoption of the council budget for the year beginning July 1.
• Approval of a resolution to promote the use of best available technology in tugboats escorting laden oil tankers.
• A presentation on analysis of fishing vessel types and numbers.
• An update from the citizens’ council on the renewal process for oil spill prevention and response plans (known as contingency plans) for the Valdez Marine Terminal.
• A presentation by the US Coast Guard on ice and adverse weather.

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Council is recertified by Coast Guard

The Coast Guard has recertified the citizens’ council as meeting its responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. In a March 15 letter to the council, Rear Admiral, T.P. Ostebo, commander of the Cost Guard’s District 17 in Juneau, notified the council of recertification. The 1990 Act requires the council to be recertified annually as the … Read more

Public comments on guidelines for use of dispersants in Alaska

Changes to how dispersants are authorized for use during an oil spill are being proposed by the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT). The ARRT is a combination of federal, state and local agencies that share responsibilities for managing oil and chemical spill responses in Alaska.

The ARRT asked for members of the public and stakeholder groups to review the draft Oil Dispersant Authorization Plan, and is providing an opportunity for comment.

Update: The ARRT’s deadline for written comments was February 14, 2014.

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