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Review of Cathodic Protection Systems at the Valdez Marine Terminal

This final report summarizes a review of cathodic protection (CP) of the crude oil piping at the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT). The report summarizes the types of CP systems used at the VMT, as well as Alyeska's methods for monitoring and testing the systems. The report found that overall, it appears Alyeska has a very good corrosion and cathodic protection program, but there were some important discrepancies that need to be addressed, including:

- Re-evaluate and improve testing procedures to more accurately measure polarized potentials along the crude piping system.
- Re-evaluate utilization and measurement of 100 mV CP system testing criteria.
- Update procedures to reflect changes to testing, analysis, and utilization of alternative measurement tools.

View: Review of Cathodic Protection Systems at the Valdez Marine Terminal
Author: Keith Boswell
Date: April 14, 2021
File size: 1.9 MB

Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program: 2020 Sampling Results and Interpretations

This annual report summarizes and interprets the Council’s oil pollution monitoring work for the year. Mussels, sediments, and special sampling devices are collected and analyzed in order to monitor oil contamination associated with the operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers.
View: Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program: 2020 Sampling Results and Interpretations
Author: James R. Payne, William B. Driskell
Date: April 1, 2021
File size: 5.2 MB

Using Mussel Transcriptomics For Environmental Monitoring In Port Valdez Alaska - 2019 And 2020 Pilot Study Results

The goal of this pilot study was to determine if transcriptomic analysis of mussel tissue would be useful as a part of the Council’s Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program (LTEMP).
View: Using Mussel Transcriptomics For Environmental Monitoring In Port Valdez Alaska - 2019 And 2020 Pilot Study Results
Author: Lizabeth Bowen, Austin Love, Shannon Waters, Katrina Counihan, Brenda Ballachey, Heather Coletti, William B. Driskell, and James R. Payne
Date: February 17, 2021
File size: 2.9 MB

Council Elects Officers For May 2021 To May 2022

News release with results of elections for Board officers to serve from May 2021 to May 2022.
View: Council Elects Officers For May 2021 To May 2022
Date: May 6, 2021
File size: 0.1 MB

Prince William Sound RCAC board meeting will be virtual, May 6-7 (2021)

News release for May 2021 Board of Directors meeting.
View: Prince William Sound RCAC board meeting will be virtual, May 6-7 (2021)
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: April 28, 2021
File size: 0.5 MB

Hinchinbrook Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Best Available Technology (BAT) Assessment

This final report summarizes Glosten's review of relevant literature, an analysis of the design and equipment parameters needed for a tug to operate in this particular role, and a comparison between that analysis and the tugs currently used for that role. Additional details and Glosten's conclusions can be found in the report.
View: Hinchinbrook Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Best Available Technology (BAT) Assessment
Author: Glosten
Date: April 21, 2021
File size: 20.4 MB

Head of citizens’ group lauds U.S. House passage of Coast Guard bill that will preserve Prince William Sound tanker escorts

View: Head of citizens’ group lauds U.S. House passage of Coast Guard bill that will preserve Prince William Sound tanker escorts
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: November 5, 2009
File size: 0.2 MB

2020 Drill Monitoring Report

This yearly report summarizes the drills and exercises that were attended, observed, and evaluated by Council staff and contractors in 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many exercises were postponed or reduced in number and scale.

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.
View: 2020 Drill Monitoring Report
Author: Roy Robertson
Date: January 28, 2021
File size: 0.1 MB

2020 Prince William Sound Forage Fish Observations

This report by Dr. Scott Pegau of the Prince William Sound Science Center summarizes the results of the surveys for forage fish he conducted in Prince William Sound last summer. “Forage fish” are species that are preyed on by larger predators, and include Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, capelin, and candlefish.

Dr. Pegau conducted the survey of the entire coastline of Prince William Sound via airplane in 2019 and 2020. Surveying from the air allows for identifying areas in water too shallow for a vessel. The primary objectives are to map and count schools of these fish in Prince William Sound to help protect these important species during a spill response. This work is expected to continue until 2022.
View: 2020 Prince William Sound Forage Fish Observations
Author: W. Scott Pegau, Prince William Sound Science Center
Date: January 28, 2021
File size: 1.9 MB

Long Range Plan - July 2021 Through June 2025

Since 2001, the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) has annually reviewed and updated its long term plan and planning process. The document is focused on new and continuing projects for the next five years, with a special focus on projects proposed for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2022). This document is intended to serve as a guide
for the organization to achieve its mission of promoting environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers.
View: Long Range Plan - July 2021 Through June 2025
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: January 28, 2021
File size: 2.9 MB

Study Overview - Recovery Of A Subsistence Way Of Life

This joint project with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) assessed how the subsistence harvest of natural resources has changed over time in Exxon Valdez oil spill impacted communities. Researchers analyzed subsistence harvest data collected from 1984 through 2014 in the communities of Cordova, Chenega, Tatitlek, Port Graham, and Nanwalek. This document is a summary of the full report (PDF).

This report was presented to the Council during the September 2020 Board of Directors meeting. Watch the presentation on the Council's YouTube channel: "Subsistence Way of Life" Presentation by the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game to the PWSRCAC, 9/18/2020

View: Study Overview - Recovery Of A Subsistence Way Of Life
Author: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence
Date: January 28, 2021
File size: 1.0 MB

Recovery Of A Subsistence Way Of Life

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) significantly altered wild food harvest practices and ways of life in the coastal communities of Cordova, Chenega, Tatitlek, Nanwalek, and Port Graham. In this project, researchers studied data from surveys collected over 40 years to assess changes and trends in subsistence resource use. See also: Study overview

View: Recovery Of A Subsistence Way Of Life
Author: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence
Date: January 28, 2021
File size: 2.9 MB

Winter 2020 (December) Observer

View: Winter 2020 (December) Observer
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: December 24, 2020
File size: 1.1 MB

Prince William Sound RCAC Board Meeting Will Be Virtual, January 28-29

View: Prince William Sound RCAC Board Meeting Will Be Virtual, January 28-29
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: January 21, 2021
File size: 0.2 MB

2019-20 Annual Report - Year In Review

This report covers the Council's activities from July 2019 to June 2020.
View: 2019-20 Annual Report - Year In Review
Author: PWSRCAC
Date: December 3, 2020
File size: 8.2 MB

Comparison Of Capabilities Between Prince William Sound Emergency Towing Package And IMO-SOLAS Emergency Towing Package For Tankers

Little River Marine Consultants were retained by Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) to conduct a of comparison of capabilities between Prince William Sound Emergency Towing Package, the IMO/SOLAS Emergency Towing Package for Tankers, and other requirements applicable to tankers operating in Prince William Sound.
View: Comparison Of Capabilities Between Prince William Sound Emergency Towing Package And IMO-SOLAS Emergency Towing Package For Tankers
Author: Frosty Leonard, Little River Marine Consultants
Date: August 31, 2017
File size: 0.4 MB

VMT Crude Oil Tank 13 Inspection Review

This report summarizes the findings of the 196 page inspection report produced by APSC’s API 653 inspector, and compares the inspector’s findings to prior in 1998 (out-of-service), 2004 (in-service, external only), and 2009 (in-service, external only). This report also examines whether the Cathodic Protection system installed under the new tank floor (installed in 1998) has remained operational and protective during the period of 1999 to 2014.
View: VMT Crude Oil Tank 13 Inspection Review
Author: Susan Harvey, Harvey Consulting
Date: May 18, 2015
File size: 0.2 MB

Review of Out-of-Region Equipment Resources Listed by Prince William Sound Planholders

For this 2007 report, researchers reviewed out-of-region oil spill response equipment resources. The report also reviewed the contractual relationships between the planholders and SERVS, and the contractual relationship(s) between the planholders and out-of-region equipment. The planholder submittals were analyzed to verify whether adequate resources were available and under contract.
View: Review of Out-of-Region Equipment Resources Listed by Prince William Sound Planholders
Author: Erich R. Gundlach, Ph.D., E-Tech International Inc.
Date: July 6, 2007
File size: 4.5 MB

New Weather Buoys Establish PORTS® Information For Valdez, Alaska

View: New Weather Buoys Establish PORTS® Information For Valdez, Alaska
Date: October 15, 2020
File size: 0.3 MB

Metagenetic Analysis of 2018 and 2019 Plankton Samples from Prince William Sound, Alaska

This final report provided the results of an analysis on the genes of plankton gathered in Port Valdez and Prince William Sound in 2018 and 2019. The goal of the project is to identify marine invasive species in Prince William Sound. For this project, the Council partnered with the Prince William Sound Science Center, who collected the samples, and Moss Landing Marine Laboratory in California, who conducted the genetic analysis.

The Council monitors for marine invasive species which could potentially arrive in ballast water or on the hull of the crude oil tankers arriving at the Valdez Marine Terminal These tankers dock in ports known to harbor marine invasive species. Some invasive species could cause significant economic and environmental harm if reproducing populations became established locally.
View: Metagenetic Analysis of 2018 and 2019 Plankton Samples from Prince William Sound, Alaska
Author: Dr. Jonathan Geller, Melinda Wheelock, Martin Guo at Moss Landing Marine Laboratory
Date: September 18, 2020
File size: 1.7 MB