The Council’s influence depends on quality, accurate research. The Council regularly retains experts to conduct independent research on oil transportation safety and the environmental impacts of the Valdez Marine Terminal and tankers.
Below are recent final reports released by the Council:
| Link to Additional Details | Author | Date | Description | View Document | hf:doc_categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2025 Technical Supplement | Dr. Morgan Powers | December 1, 2025 | This technical supplement contains information on field sampling, and analytical and data analysis methods used to monitor and assess environmental hydrocarbons and their potential environmental risk in Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council’s (PWSRCAC) Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program (LTEMP). This document should function as an aid to the assertions made in the Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2025 Summary Report. Download the 2025 Technical Supplement: | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2025 Summary Report | Dr. Morgan Powers | December 1, 2025 | Â The major environmental monitoring activities of the Council are conducted through the long-term environmental monitoring program, known as LTEMP. This project has gathered data on the presence of hydrocarbons in sediments and mussels in the region since 1993. The report and supplement provide data and results from the 2025 sampling excursions in Port Valdez. During the excursions, samples from mussels, sediment, and seawater were collected at sites adjacent to the Valdez Marine Terminal and reference sites. The samples were analyzed for the presence of hydrocarbons. Dr. Powers reported the results show that there is currently a low risk for effects … | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| 23rd Annual Subsistence Memorial Gathering Workshop | Danielle Verna, Davin Holen | August 1, 2025 | This report summarizes a workshop held during the 23rd Annual Subsistence Memorial Gathering, an event hosted by the Chugach Regional Resources Commission, or CRRC, on March 27, 2025. The workshop was a partnership between the Council, CRRC, and Alaska Sea Grant. The goals of the workshop were to bring together residents of the Chugach and Exxon Valdez oil spill region to share stories, discuss concerns about past and future environmental impacts, and generate interest in locally supported research. | environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Review of Ballast Water Tank 93 Out-of-Service Inspection Report and Tank Repairs | William Mott | July 1, 2025 | In this report, Bill Mott of Taku Engineering reviewed the maintenance practices and provided recommendations for improvements to help minimize the risk of an oil spill from ballast water storage tank number 93 at the Valdez Marine Terminal. | terminal-operations programs | |
| Review of the 2024 Alaska North Slope Oil Properties Relevant to Environmental Assessment and Prediction | Merv Fingas | June 1, 2025 | This report by Dr. Merv Fingas summarizes his analysis of the physical and chemical properties of a sample of 2024 Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil. This analysis is sponsored by the Council every five years or so to track changes in the oil’s properties, and how those changes might impact oil spill response measures including mechanical recovery, in-situ burning, and use of dispersants. Dr. Fingas noted that the sample’s composition is more similar to the previous sample, analyzed in 2019, than samples taken in 2015 and earlier. ANS crude oil is trending lighter since around 2010, and is now … | dispersants environmental-monitoring oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| 2024 Annual Drill Monitoring Report | Roy Robertson | May 7, 2025 | This yearly report summarizes the drills and exercises that were attended, observed, and evaluated by Council staff and contractors in 2024. These reports have great value in tracking the history of spill preparedness and response by Alyeska/SERVS and the associated shippers. They are instrumental in identifying operational issues and tracking the lessons learned during these events. These reports have proven to be valuable tools in addressing recurring problems, improving the prevention and response system, assisting contingency plan workgroups, and in planning large unannounced drills. | drill-monitoring-reports oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| Assessing the likelihood of non-indigenous species biofouling on vessel arrivals within the Exxon Valdez oil spill region | Natalie Kiley-Bergen | May 1, 2025 | Kiley-Bergen looked at the risk of non-indigenous species arriving in Prince William Sound and the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) region from biofouling.  Biofouling refers to the process by which organisms attach to the submerged parts of a vessel.  Kiley-Bergen compared the risk posed by six major classes of large commercial vessels that are common in the EVOS region: tankers, cruise ships, container ships, cargo ships, bunkers, and roll-on/roll-off cargo vessels. This study will help focus future research and monitoring efforts. | nis programs | |
| 2024 Sediment Metals Report | Dr. Morgan Powers, fjord & fish sciences | January 25, 2025 | This pilot study provides a summary of 23 metals identified in sediments collected near two monitoring sites in Port Valdez. | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Report on VOC Emissions from Snow Removal Incident at VMT in 2022 | Dr. Ranajit (Ron) Sahu | December 1, 2024 | Full title: Report on the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from the Snow Removal Incident at the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s Valdez Marine Terminal East Tank Farm in Early 2022 In 2022, vents on several crude oil storage tanks at the VMT were severely damaged or sheared off due to excessive snow load and ice accumulation. The Council sponsored Dr. Sahu’s study to better understand the volume of emissions that were released. He estimates that this damage resulted in the emission of 79-193 tons of volatile organic compounds and hazardous pollutants into the surrounding atmosphere. | terminal-operations programs | |
| Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2024 Technical Supplement | Dr. Morgan Powers, fjord & fish sciences | December 1, 2024 | This technical supplement contains information on field sampling, and analytical and data analysis methods used to monitor and assess environmental hydrocarbons and their potential environmental risk in Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council’s (PWSRCAC) Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program (LTEMP). | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program 2024 Summary Report | Dr. Morgan Powers, fjord & fish sciences | December 1, 2024 | The major environmental monitoring activities of the Council are conducted through the long-term environmental monitoring project, known as LTEMP. This project has gathered data on the presence of hydrocarbons in sediments and mussels in the region since 1993. | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| 2022 Tank Pressure/Vacuum Pallet Damage: Crude Oil Storage Tank Headspace Gas Assessment | Taku Engineering, William Mott | December 1, 2024 | In this report, contractor Bill Mott of Taku Engineering summarized the calculations and key assumptions (due to the limited available data) used in a previous report related to a 2022 incident. In that incident, vents on several of the terminal’s crude oil storage tanks were damaged due to excessive snow load and ice accumulation, and the previous report found that Alyeska’s mitigation response presented a significant occupational safety risk for the tank top snow removal crew. Previous report: Crude Oil Storage Tank Vent Snow Damage Download new report: | terminal-operations programs | |
| 2023 Annual Drill Monitoring Report | PWSRCAC, Roy Robertson | May 13, 2024 | This yearly report summarizes the drills and exercises that were attended, observed, and evaluated by Council staff and contractors in 2023. | drill-monitoring-reports oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| Examining the Effectiveness of Ballast Water Treatment Processes: Insights into Hydrocarbon Oxidation Product Formation and Environmental Implications | David C. Podgorski, Maxwell L. Harsha | September 22, 2023 | Abstract: This study investigates the treatment processes employed at a ballast water treatment facility in Valdez, Alaska, to remove hydrocarbons from unsegregated ballast water. | environmental-monitoring ltemp programs | |
| Port Valdez Weather Buoy Analysis 2019 – 2022 | Dr Robert W. Campbell | September 1, 2023 | This report summarizes three years of meteorological and oceanographic measurements made by two buoys deployed in Port Valdez, one adjacent to the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) and one near the Valdez Duck Flats. | weather maritime-operations programs | |
| Peer Listener Training Manual | August 21, 2023 | The Peer Listener Manual is a resource for those looking to provide peer support in the event of a technological disaster such as an oil spill. | coping-with-technological-disasters resources | ||
| Marine Bird Winter Surveys in Prince William Sound – 2023 | Anne Schaefer, M.A. Bishop | June 26, 2023 | Of the marine birds that overwinter in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, nine species and one species group were initially injured by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, 2014). This Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) commissioned study, now in its third year, conducted marine bird and marine mammal surveys in under-surveyed areas in and around the PWS tanker escort zone. | oil-spill-prevention-planning programs | |
| Sustainable Shipping: Regulatory Mandate Review | Haley Griffin, Nuka Research Planning Group LLC, Sierra Fletcher | June 1, 2023 | As with all engines that burn fossil fuels, adverse health and environmental impacts arise when pollutants are released from vessels, ranging from respiratory illnesses to acid rain to climate change. Within its mandate to promote the environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers, the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) commissioned this report to summarize recent and potential future vessel air emissions requirements. | maritime-operations programs | |
| 2022 Drill Monitoring Report | PWSRCAC, Roy Robertson | May 4, 2023 | This yearly report summarizes the drills and exercises that were attended, observed, and evaluated by Council staff and contractors in 2022. | drill-monitoring-reports oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| Assessment of Risks and Safety Culture at Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal | Billie Pirner Garde | April 24, 2023 | This report was initiated in June 2022, in response to safety concerns at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) brought to PWSRCAC by current and former Alyeska employees. | garde-report terminal-operations correspondence resources programs | |
| Executive Summary Of Effects Of The April 2020 Oil Spill Detected In Study Of Mussel Genes | Austin Love, Brenda Ballachey, Eric Litman, James R. Payne, Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon Waters, William B. Driskell | March 1, 2023 | On April 12, 2020, a minor oil spill was reported at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) in Port Valdez, Alaska. An estimated 1,400 gallons (~34 barrels) of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil overflowed from an onshore sump well and subsequently reached the shoreline, creating slicks and necessitating a full-scale marine cleanup response. Recognizing a “spill of opportunity,” the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council’s (PWSRCAC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) initiated a special project to measure oil exposures and genetic response in shoreline mussels from this spill. | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Review Of The 2019 Alaska North Slope Oil Properties Relevant To Environmental Assessment And Prediction | Merv Fingas, Spill Science | March 1, 2023 | This report titled ‘2019 Alaska North Slope Crude Oil Properties’ by Dr. Merv Fingas, is based on a lab analysis of Alaska North Slope crude oil that was collected in 2019. | dispersants environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Dispersants Literature Database – Updated February 2023 – DOWNLOADS IN EXCEL FORMAT | Merv Fingas, Spill Science | February 21, 2023 | The Council has sponsored what we believe is one of the most complete compilations of articles written on oil spill dispersant research. This database is available as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. | dispersants environmental-monitoring programs | |
| PWSRCAC Dispersant Use Position Supporting Materials | Nuka Research Planning Group LLC | January 27, 2023 | These materials were developed to aid in communicating the rationale for the Council’s position that was adopted in September 2022 by elaborating on each of the four sections of the position. | dispersants environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Transcriptomic responses to an Alaskan oil spill over time reveal a dynamic multisystem involvement in exposed mussels (Mytilus trossulus) | Austin Love, Brenda Ballachey, Eric Litman, James R. Payne, Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon Waters, William B. Driskell | January 1, 2023 | In response to a minor shoreline spill in Port Valdez, AK, a time series of mussels (M. trossulus) was collected and analyzed for oil burdens and transcriptome response. In general, transcription results show that following higher levels of tissue PAH burdens, significant physiological responses occurred. | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Review of Literature on Oil Spill Dispersants: 2021-2023 | Merv Fingas, Spill Science | January 1, 2023 | This is a summary report on dispersants and dispersant research. This is an update to the previous detailed summary which was prepared in 2021, and covers the literature published since that review. | dispersants environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Port Valdez Weather Buoy Analysis 2019 – 2021 | Dr Robert W. Campbell | December 7, 2022 | This report by Dr. Robert Campbell of the Prince William Sound Science Center. Dr Campbell has been analyzing data collected by the Council’s two weather buoys in Port Valdez, looking for weather trends throughout the year and seasonally. The analysis includes direction and speed of currents and wind, wave direction and height, along with other pertinent information. | oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| Methodologies for Evaluating Defects in the Catalytically Blown Asphalt Liner in the Secondary Containment System at the Valdez Marine Terminal | Dr. Craig H. Benson | November 29, 2022 | This report describes methods that can be used to evaluate the catalytically blown asphalt (CBA) liner in the secondary containment systems at Valdez Marine Terminal and provides recommendations on the most suitable methods for assessment. | terminal-operations programs | |
| 2022 Prince William Sound Forage Fish Observations | W. Scott Pegau | November 28, 2022 | For this project, researchers conducted aerial surveys of forage fish in Prince William Sound (PWS) to identify areas where forage fish congregate. | oil-spill-prevention-planning programs | |
| Evaluation of Peer Listener Program | Purpose Driven Consulting | August 2, 2022 | This evaluation provides a comprehensive analysis of PWSRCAC’s Peer Listener Program to improve program operation and generate new knowledge focused on its next iteration, building on its existing strengths and incorporating best practices from both academic research and active peer listening programs nationwide. | coping-with-technological-disasters resources | |
| Variation in Zooplankton Community Composition in Prince William Sound across Space and Time | Dr. Jonathan Geller, Dr. Katrina Lohan, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | July 5, 2022 | This report summarizes a genetic analysis of zooplankton in Prince William Sound. | nis programs | |
| Port Valdez Mussel Transcriptomics | Austin Love, Brenda Ballachey, Heather Coletti, Katrina Counihan, Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon Waters | November 20, 2019 | This pilot project provided funding to evaluate if a new environmental monitoring method, transcriptomics, could be used to improve the Council’s Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program (LTEMP). | ltemp environmental-monitoring programs | |
| Alaska’s Oil Spill Response Planning Standard (Graphic Version) | Elise DeCola, Nuka Research Planning Group LLC, Tim Robertson | November 8, 2019 | This is a graphic synopsis of the full report: ‘Alaska’s Oil Spill Response Planning Standard – History and Legislative Intent’ (PDF/5.6MB). | oil-spill-prevention-planning programs | |
| 2019 Prince William Sound Forage Fish Observations | Prince William Sound Science Center, W. Scott Pegau | November 4, 2019 | This project provided funding for aerial surveys of juvenile forage fish in Prince William Sound (PWS) in June 2019. The project identifies areas where various species of forage fish congregate,? including the species Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, capelin, and candlefish. The aerial surveys allow for identifying juvenile forage fish schools that are in water too shallow for a survey vessel. The project builds upon previous aerial forage fish surveys conducted in PWS in the late 1990?s through 2016 and is planned to continue until 2022. The primary objectives of the work is to map and count forage fish schools … | oil-spill-response-operations programs | |
| 2019 Prince William Sound Forage Fish Observations | Prince William Sound Science Center, W. Scott Pegau | November 4, 2019 | This project provided funding for aerial surveys of juvenile forage fish in Prince William Sound (PWS) in June 2019. The project identifies areas where various species of forage fish congregate,? including the species Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, capelin, and candlefish. The aerial surveys allow for identifying juvenile forage fish schools that are in water too shallow for a survey vessel. The project builds upon previous aerial forage fish surveys conducted in PWS in the late 1990?s through 2016 and is planned to continue until 2022. The primary objectives of the work is to map and count forage fish schools … | oil-spill-prevention-planning programs | |
| Ship Simulation Modeling and Mariner Study of the Maritime Implications for Tank Vessels Utilizing Potential Places of Refuge, Prince William Sound, Alaska | Captain Jeff Pierce, Jonathan J. Pierce, Safeguard Marine LLC | July 12, 2019 | This report evaluates the safety of Potential Places of Refuge (PPOR) in Prince William Sound (PWS) for decision-making concerning oil tankers in distress. | maritime-operations programs | |
| Ship Simulation and Mariner Study of the Maritime Implications for Tank Vessels Utilizing Potential Places of Refuge, Mid-Prince William Sound Alaska | Captain Jeff Pierce, Jonathan J. Pierce, Safeguard Marine LLC | January 12, 2017 | The purpose of this study is to assess the capability of tank vessels (tanker) in distress utilizing Mid-Prince William Sound Potential Places of Refuge (PPOR) that were determined in the Prince William Sound Subarea Contingency Plan. | maritime-operations programs |