Board of Directors News

Council announces election of Board officers

by
Photo of Executive Committee for 2022-2023
PWSRCAC Executive Committee for May 2022-May 2023, left to right: Donaldson, Totemoff, Bauer, Archibald, Cutrell, and Beedle. Not pictured: Bob Shavelson.

The Council held its annual Board meeting in Valdez, Alaska, on May 5-6, 2022. Among other business, the Board convened to elect officers who will serve from May 2022 to May 2023.

The elected executive committee is comprised of:

  • President: Robert Archibald, representing the City of Homer
  • Vice President: Amanda Bauer, representing the City of Valdez
  • Treasurer: Wayne Donaldson, representing the City of Kodiak
  • Secretary: Bob Shavelson, representing the Oil Spill Region Environmental Coalition
  • Three Members-at-Large:
    • Ben Cutrell, representing Chugach Alaska Corporation
    • Robert Beedle, representing the City of Cordova
    • Angela Totemoff, representing the Community of Tatitlek

“I am honored to serve as president of the Board for another year,” said Robert Archibald. “As one of two regional citizens advisory councils in the nation, it is incumbent upon our organization to hold accountable industry and regulators. It is essential that the highest safety standards are maintained in order to prevent oil spills and make sure there is a strong response system in place should prevention measures fail in order to protect the citizens, Valdez Marine Terminal workforce, associated tanker crews, and Alaska’s environment which we hold so dear.”

The Council is grateful to have the support of its many volunteers from all over the Exxon Valdez oil spill region. The new executive committee is an excellent representation of the Council.

New members seated

Curtis Herschleb
Aimee Williams

The Board seated two new members. Curtis Herschleb was appointed by Cordova District Fishermen United to fill the seat held by Patience Andersen Faulkner, who retired this year. Aimee Williams has been appointed by the Kodiak Island Borough to fill the seat previously held by Rebecca Skinner.

 

Board passes resolution honoring Patience Andersen Faulkner

by

The Council’s longest-serving member of its Board of Directors has retired from her service to the Council. At its meeting on May 5, the Council passed a unanimous resolution honoring Andersen Faulkner. The full text is below.

Related: A good neighbor reflects on the art of listening

Resolution 22-01: Commending and Expressing Gratitude for Patience Andersen Faulkner’s Dedication and Service to the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council and in Alaska

Photo of Patience Andersen Faulkner
Patience Andersen Faulkner

WHEREAS, during the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Patience Andersen Faulkner served as a paralegal assisting fishermen in Cordova, Alaska, to successfully process claims for damages, as well as supporting community members as they grappled with the aftermath of the spill; and,

WHEREAS, on December 3, 1998, Faulkner was seated on the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council Board of Directors, representing the Cordova District Fishermen United, making her the Council’s longest-serving Director, with a stellar attendance record, having made 114 Board meetings; and,

WHEREAS, Faulkner’s pioneering work with Dr. Steve Picou documenting the profound human health and societal impacts of oil spills has been recognized and accepted by federal regulators and the President’s Oil Spill Commission, and is now recommended for the list of damages that responsible parties must legally acknowledge and attempt to address in the wake of a large oil spill; and,

Read more

Council met in Valdez in May

by

Photo of the Valdez Duck Flats.The Council held a meeting in Valdez on Thursday and Friday, May 5-6, 2022.

Agenda and materials for Board of Directors Meeting, May 5 and 6

On the agenda

The Council conducted regular business during the meeting, including seating of established directors and committee members, election of new board officers, and updates from Council ex-officio members, staff and committees. Other topics included on the agenda are:

  • An activity report by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company on the Valdez Marine Terminal and Ship Escort/Response Vessel System operations and remarks from Danika Yeager, Alyeska interim president.
  • An update from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response.
  • A resolution recognizing Patience Andersen Faulkner, who stepped down after representing Cordova District Fishermen United on the Council’s board since 1998.
  • A report on the current state and history of developing sensitive area protection strategies for the Copper River Delta and Flats region in the event of an oil spill.
  • An overview of Council-commissioned coursework developed by AVTEC Maritime Training Center in Seward, Alaska, to better prepare mariners, including real life situations with simulator scenarios based on activities occurring in Prince William Sound.
  • A presentation by Marine Exchange of Alaska on their marine safety mission and where their work shares common interests with the Council.
  • A summary of the results from the Council’s annual Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Program, analyzing mussels, marine sediment, and passive sampling devices to monitor oil contamination associated with operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers.
  • An update on community outreach activities done by the Council over the past year.
  • An update on an ongoing project to review the Council’s position on the use of dispersants in the event of an oil spill in our region.
  • A report from the Council’s legislative monitors and staff on political developments and prospects coming out of Washington, D.C., and Juneau.

Face mask requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures will be in place and posted at the board meeting.

The meeting agenda provided is subject to change before or during the meeting. Council board meetings are routinely recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the council or by the news media.

 

Council Board met January 27-28

by

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council held a virtual board meeting on Thursday and Friday, January 27-28, 2022.

The Council conducted regular business during the meeting, including updates from Council ex-officio members, staff and committees. Other topics on the agenda were:

  • An activity report by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company on the Valdez Marine Terminal and Ship Escort/Response Vessel System operations.
  • An overview on Council comments to be submitted to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on the proposed changes to regulations related to oil spill contingency planning.
  • An update on the budget for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response and current challenges facing the division.
  • A briefing from Council staff on the status of the Prince William Sound Tanker Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan renewal.
  • An update on West Coast shipping operations from Marathon Petroleum.
  • An overview of the work conducted by the Council to monitor the environmental impacts of the Valdez Marine Terminal spill which occurred on April 12, 2020.
  • A summary of a review to determine if the Council should support Alyeska’s appeal asking that parts of an Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding emissions standards not be applicable to the terminal.
  • A presentation on aerial forage fish surveys conducted in Prince William Sound in June of 2021.
  • A report of the Council’s monitoring of drills and exercises in 2021.
  • A summary by Council staff of incidents (e.g., oil spills, fires, malfunctions causing shutdowns, navigational closures, tanker/escort incidents) at the terminal, on Ship Escort/Response Vessel System tugs and barges or on associated tankers that occurred in 2021.

Council board meetings are routinely recorded and may be disseminated to the public by the Council or by the news media. 

Updates on COVID-19 impacts to council activities.

Skip to content