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 is holding a series of public meetings to present information and hear public comment on their draft changes to the plan authorizing the use of chemical dispersants in Alaska waters during an oil spill response. The council encourages all individual citizens and groups that may be concerned about the preauthorization of chemical oil dispersant use in Alaska to attend these forums.
Participants in the 2013 Marine Firefighting Symposium were able to train with live fire during this year’s event.
The 2013 Marine Firefighting Symposium was held October 8-10 in Seward. This was the first time the symposium was held in a community outside of Valdez. By working with the Seward Fire Department and AVTEC – Alaska’s Institute of Technology, this year’s symposium was also the first time that live fire training was part of the program.
There were 39 participants and eight facilitators at the event. The entire state was well represented with a good mix of communities and industry partners. Attendance numbers were lower this year due to several factors, including the federal government shutdown.
We were given a great deal of support from the Seward Chamber of Commerce, Seward Fire Department, Scott and Eagle Safety, AVTEC, Kenai Fjords Tours, Foss, Crowley Maritime, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, Resolve Marine and the International Fire Service Training Association. The Alaska Department of Homeland Security provided funds for 11 firefighters from across the state to travel to the event.
From Stan Stephens’ journal on April 18, 1989: “Today is absolute confusion. They found a lot of oil north of Perry Island in Wells Passage. Equipment is starting to break down. So there are less and less skimmers working. The oil is getting so spread out they cannot handle it. Here is a whole month gone by without a real understanding of those in charge how big Prince William Sound really is. I’m dedicating the rest of my life and spare time to the protection of the environment.”
Stan Stephens, long-time council volunteer, passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2013.
Stan was integral in helping form the council, and was an active volunteer from 1990 until his retirement from the board of directors in 2012.
Stan’s passion and commitment to the health and well-being of Prince William Sound was extraordinary, and his efforts over the years were truly commendable.
In May 1995, Stan was presented with a glowing citation by the Alaska State Legislature for his contributions to Alaska as the president of the council.
“Mr. Stephens has devoted thousands of hours and unbounded energy to RCAC’s mission. He has been an example for all Alaskans of how citizens can constructively influence decisions that affect their lives and communities,” the citation says.
Stan led the council’s effort to convince regulators and the oil industry that a system to control tanker loading vapors was needed at the Valdez Marine Terminal, which led to the completion and start-up of such a system in 1998. He advocated the use of advanced tractor tugs to increase the safety of tanker traffic in Prince William Sound, and this effort was rewarded in 1999 with the advent of two new tractor tugs to assist and protect tankers carrying North Slope crude. Prince William Sound now has a total of five tractor tugs facilitating the safe oil transportation in the Port of Valdez.
The council’s board of directors held a meeting at the AVTEC Culinary Institute in Seward, Alaska on Thursday and Friday, September 19 and 20, 2013. Topics on the agenda included: A review of the best available technology for escort tugs Presentation on a project to identify, track and observe resolution of system integrity issues at the … Read more
