News & Announcements

The Observer newsletter – January 2013

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Articles from the January issue of The Observer newsletter are now online:

  1. Study looks at changes in Columbia Glacier and effects on oil transportation
    This year, the council is sponsoring a project to study Columbia Glacier, looking at its retreat and loss of ice. The council hopes to learn more about possible future effects of icebergs on tanker traffic in Prince William Sound.
    Article:  Study looks at changes in Columbia Glacier and effects on oil transportation 
  2. Updated tanker oil spill plans for Sound approved in November
    The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation approved the new Prince William Sound Tanker Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan and associated response plans for individual vessels effective November 2, 2012.
    Article:  Updated tanker oil spill plans for Sound approved in November
  3. Long-time staff member Stan Jones to retire
    Stan Jones, the council’s director of administration and external affairs, will be retiring after more than 17 years of service to the council.
    Article:  Long-time staff member Stan Jones to retire

    Read more

May 2012 Observer Newsletter

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Read more about the council’s concerns about extensions of the tank inspection intervals at the Valdez Marine Terminal, a coalition for citizen oversight of the pipeline, hear from the Coast Guard about dual escorts, and more.

Just as a reminder, you can now receive The Observer by email! Sign up today to receive our newsletter straight into your inbox.

Board Meeting – May 3 & 4 – Valdez

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The council held a board meeting on May 3 and 4 at the Valdez Convention and Civic Center.

Signifigant agenda items included:

    • Seating of new directors, election of officers, and adoption of council budget for the year beginning July 1.
    • An update from the citizens’ council on the renewal process for oil spill prevention and response plans for tankers in Prince William Sound.
    • A report from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on its revisions, now in progress, to the state regulations governing contingency plans.
    • A presentation from Crowley Maritime on the company’s follow-up actions in response to a series of incidents involving the tugs that assist tankers carrying North Slope crude oil and support the system for responding to tanker spills.
    • A presentation on the issue of storage tank inspection intervals at the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. tanker terminal in Valdez. The council has recently opposed Alyeska requests to extend inspection intervals, and has unsuccessfully urged the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to reconsider its decision to grant at least one such extension.

Balloon‐Based Spill Surveillance System

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The Council, in conjunction with the Oil Spill Recovery Institute of Cordova and BP’s Crisis Management Unit have been working on the development of a promising new method of providing aerial observations during an oil spill. The surveillance technology uses a helium filled balloon carrying both infrared and conventional cameras tethered to a vessel. The spill balloon can be lofted 500 feet in the air and would supplement traditional aircraft over-flights during a response.

A demonstration of this system was conducted on April 25, 2011 in Valdez at the small boat harbor. An on water demonstration took place later that afternoon in Port Valdez.

See photos from the April 19 test in Cordova by the Oil Spill Recovery Institute:  OSRI Balloon Test 

A balloon-based oil spill surveillance system was purchased by the Prince William Sound Science Center in 2009 for the purpose of testing its applicability for oil spill surveillance. The original concept for the system was an output of a workshop titled “Hydrocarbon sensors for oil spill prevention and response,” jointly sponsored by the Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI) and the Alliance for Coastal Technology.

The final report on this demonstration focuses on the system owned by the Prince William Sound Science Center with discussion about other systems as applicable. Some additional information on alternative systems is provided in the section on selection criteria. The final report also gives suggestions for further research and speaks to the sorts of refinements that will help make the system better for spill response work.

Report: OSRI Balloon Surveillance System Operations And Test Results

See also: Hydrocarbon Sensors for Oil Spill Prevention and Response – Workshop Proceedings

Project Updates:

With the realities of our remote location, limited daylight hours through portions of the year, and goal of supplementing traditional aircraft overflights fully in mind, Council staff continue to monitor for developments in aerial surveillance technology.

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