Board elects officers for upcoming year

Photo of five of the six executive committee members who will serve until May 2024.
Left to right: Ben Cutrell, Amanda Bauer, Robert Archibald, Robert Beedle, and Angela Totemoff. Not pictured: Bob Shavelson.

At its annual Board meeting in Valdez, on May 4-5, 2023, the Board elected officers who will serve from May 2023 to May 2024. All current officers were re-elected into the same positions they held for the previous year.

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 Cordova District Fishermen United
    • Angela Totemoff, representing the Community of Tatitlek

“The Council believes firmly that our greatest successes result from citizens, industry and regulators working together to maintain and improve our safeguards designed to prepare for and prevent future oil spills,” Robert Archibald said. “It is crucial we not forget the reasons that led to the creation of this organization and continue to work together to maintain the record of safe, efficient transportation of crude oil through our region. I am honored to lead our Board for another year as we work toward our shared goal of protecting our communities, economies and environment.”

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.


PWSRCAC May 2023 Board Officers Press Release (0.5 MB)

Valdez Board meeting and community events May 3-5

Board of Directors meeting May 4 and 5

Photo of the Valdez Duck Flats.The Council’s Board of Directors will convene at the Valdez Convention & Civic Center in Valdez, Alaska on May 4 and 5, 2023. The meeting will also be streamed online for those unable to travel.

Meeting location: Valdez Convention & Civic Center

On the agenda

The tentative schedule for the Thursday session is from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Friday, the meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, except for executive sessions. Public comments are scheduled to be taken on Thursday starting at 8:40 a.m. Those wishing to speak during public comments are highly encouraged to sign up ahead of time by emailing Jennifer Fleming.

The Council will be conducting 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.
  • A summary by Council staff of changes to Article 4 of 18 AAC 75 oil discharge prevention and contingency plan regulations implemented by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on February 5, 2023.
  • A report on research conducted to understand the environmental impacts of the oil spill that occurred at the Valdez Marine Terminal on April 12, 2020.
  • An overview of Council-commissioned review on the evolution of regulatory requirements affecting the transition of ocean shipping, and tankers in particular, to a sustainable model.
  • A report on an analysis of Alaska North Slope oil and how the oil properties could influence the effectiveness of oil spill response measures.
  • A summary of the Council’s monitoring of drills and exercises in 2022.
  • An update on community outreach activities done by the Council over the past year.
  • A report from the Council’s legislative monitors and staff on political developments and prospects coming out of Washington, D.C., and Juneau.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, flu, or cold should attend virtually.

The meeting agenda 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.


Community events on May 3

Join the Council on a cruise (12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

On Wednesday afternoon, the Council is sponsoring a 2.5-hour cruise to observe how Alyeska trains their contracted fishing fleet to respond to an oil spill. These local vessels and crews are the backbone of Alyeska’s oil spill response system. Learn how they help Alyeska stay prepared for an oil spill emergency.

The Stan Stephens’ Glacier Spirit will depart at 12:30 p.m. and return around 3 p.m.

Pre-registration required: Each passenger will need to reserve their seat by filling out this registration form (please submit one per passenger): Community Tour of SERVS Oil Spill Response Training, Valdez AK

Community reception (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

Alaska Tanker Company, Hilcorp, and the Council will be co-sponsoring a community reception. The reception will be held outdoors from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Kelsey Municipal Plaza, at 412 Ferry Way (map). In the event of inclement weather, the venue will shift to the Valdez Civic Center located at 110 Clifton Drive.


PWSRCAC News Release For May 2023 Board Meeting And Community Events (0.5 MB)

U.S. Coast Guard recertifies Council

The Council is recertified for another year as the official citizens’ advisory group for Prince William Sound.

In a February letter to the Council, Rear Admiral N.A. Moore, Commander of the Coast Guard’s District 17 in Juneau, notified the Council of the decision.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires the Council to be recertified annually to ensure that its responsibilities have been met. Every three years, the recertification is opened for public comment.

The Council received 76 letters of support from organizations, agencies, businesses, Native corporations, and members of the public during the recertification process.

“Of the 76 comments received during the public comment period, 76 were supportive of recertification and noted the positive efforts demonstrated by PWSRCAC as it carries out its mission and responsibilities as intended by the Act,” the Admiral noted in the letter.

The new recertification expires February 29, 2024. At that time, the Council is scheduled to undergo the streamlined version of recertification. The next public comment period will be held in three years.

Copies of the Council’s application for recertification or letters of support received can be obtained by contacting Brooke Taylor at brooke.taylor@pwsrcac.org.

Year in Review: 2021-2022

The Council’s latest annual report, Year in Review: 2021-2022, is now available!

The annual report covers the many programs and projects we’ve been working on over the past year, such as oil spill prevention and response, environmental monitoring, oil spill contingency plans, operations at the Valdez Marine Terminal, invasive species monitoring, our outreach efforts, and much more.

This report covers the Council’s activities from July 2021 to June 2022.

Download the report:

Year In Review 2021-2022 (2.6 MB)

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