Two new ExxonMobil tankers expected Council book about to begin service in the Sound in 2014 Exxon Valdez spill used SeaRiver Maritime, the marine shipping arm to withstand operations in the North Pacific for in Wisconsin college of ExxonMobil, announced in late July plans for a minimum of twenty-five years without suf- classroom construction of two new crude oil tankers. Con- fering hull metal fatigue. Previous standards By MARIANNE UNGER struction is to begin in 2012 and the new vessels used by the company were based on a twenty Adjunct Professor of Sociology are expected to begin service in Prince William year design life. The new tankers are designed Carthage College Sound during 2014. to carry 730,000 barrels of oil, which is about 12 At Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “All cargo and fuel compartments will be percent less than the vessels they will be replac- students in my Adult Education class “Alaskan equipped with double hull protection. Both ing, the Kodiak and Sierra, which were built in Settlers” find themselves especially fortunate to vessels will feature the latest in navigation and the late 1970’s. have access to “THE communications equipment. Main engine and The new ships will be driven by a single SPILL: Personal Sto- auxiliary systems will be energy efficient and gen- slow-speed diesel engine and will have an oil ries from the Exxon erate lower air emissions than what is required mist and gas detection system for the space Valdez Disaster,” by current regulatory standards,” according to between the double hulls. This system will detect which was produced a July 25 press release from the company. the presence of these flammable materials and by the Prince Wil- These ships will be among the first U.S. help prevent fires from occurring aboard the liam Sound Regional oil tankers built to meet specifications in the vessels. While the ships will not be constructed Citizens’ Advisory Common Structural Rules for Oil Tankers. These with double propellers, engines, or rudders, a Council. rules were developed in 2006 by the three biggest SeaRiver representative indicated the design This book opens ship classification societies, the American Bureau does include other navigational and propulsion the doorway to under- of Shipping, Norway’s Det Norske Veritas, and redundancies. Specifically, SeaRiver has tried standing the impact the U.K.’s Lloyd’s Register. Ship classification to eliminate the possibility of single points of of the Exxon Valdez Marianne Unger societies are non-governmental organizations failure leading to loss of power or navigational See page 7, THE SPILL that establish and maintain technical standards failure. This will include items like the inclusion for the construction and operation of ships and of redundant engine cooling water, installation offshore structures. The 2006 rules combined of additional low fuel level alarms and increas- Alaskan students best practices of these three societies into one ing the reliability of things like fuel flow meters. learn protection and commonly accepted set of rules. The new ExxonMobil ships will be designed See page 7, NEW TANKERS stewardship of Sound Two 2011 summer programs emphasized Cordova group petitions to support citizen stewardship and protection of the unique ecol- ogy present in Alaskan waters. oversight council for trans-Alaska pipeline Read more about the lessons teens from the Cordova’s Copper River Watershed Project years has been to promote the idea of a citizen Copper River basin learned during their trip is circulating a petition advocating for an inde- oversight council for the pipeline, similar to to Wrangell pendent citizen oversight council for the trans- the councils for crude oil operations in Prince St Elias and Alaska pipeline. William Sound and Cook Inlet. In 2009, after Prince Wil- The organization’s overall mission is to several pipeline explosions in the Lower 48, the liam Sound provide residents with a forum to consider and organization received a $48,000 grant from the on page 2, and implement innovative approaches for achieving Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin- high school balance between a diverse economy and healthy istration to study the feasibility of a council for students from ecosystems while maintaining quality of life and the Alaska pipeline. Valdez visit cultural heritage. Kachemak Bay One of the group’s projects over the last few See page 7, TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE on page 5.

AK Chamber of Commerce - AK Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Assoc. - Chenega Bay - Chugach Alaska Corp. - Cordova - CDFU - Homer - Kenai Peninsula Borough Kodiak - Kodiak Island Borough - Kodiak Village Mayors - OSREC - Port Graham Corp. - PWS Aquaculture Corp. - Seldovia - Seward - Tatitlek - Valdez - Whittier

INSIDE THE OBSERVER Committee volunteer’s Council staffer appointed to state childhood experience with boating safety council, p. 4 Lake Erie pollution inspires career, p. 2 Swanson appointed to Valdez Ports and Harbor Commission, p. 4 Educating Alaska’s youth is key to future of Sound, p. 2 Committee support in Valdez office changes hands, p. 4

Mark Swanson: The merits PERMIT NO. 836 NO. PERMIT of increased transparency Students study Alaska’s coastal

in spill response p. 3 ecology and environment

ANCHORAGE, AK ANCHORAGE, monitoring, p. 5

U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. Alyeska: Stewardship of

PROFIT ORG. PROFIT NON Sound important to new Community Corner: Out and about SERVS director, p. 3 in the communities, p. 8 Volume 21, No. 4 September 2011 September 2011 Volume 21, No. 4

From the Executive Director Science committee volunteer’s childhood The merits of increased transparency in spill response experience with Lake Erie pollution inspires career As seen in the BP Deepwater Horizon establishes a nationwide framework for dealing their response Paula Martin, newest member of the coun- mental science programs at universities in a great deal of infor- incident in the Gulf of Mexico last year, Exxon- with oil spills.) efforts. cil’s Scientific Advisory Committee, clearly Pennsylvania and Georgia, before moving to mation about disper- Mobil’s pipeline spill in Montana this summer, The public isn’t keen to see the government In an era of recalls the fish kills, the raw sewage and the Alaska in 2007. She is now the Assistant Direc- sants, but it is also and again with Shell’s recent spill in the North eagerly “partnering” with an oil industry entity limited public pollution that in the 1960’s infamously fouled tor for Academic Affairs at the Kenai Peninsula looking to have that Sea, the public expects reasonable transparency that doesn’t appear particularly trustworthy or funding and the waters of Lake Erie near her childhood home College in Soldotna. information brought when disclosing the magnitude of oil spills and competent at the moment of an ongoing oil spill. an increasingly in Buffalo, New York, spawning headlines such Martin said she loves living in Alaska, which up to date. The com- the scope and progress of spill response efforts. But that’s exactly what the National Response complex oil as “The lake is dead!” she describes as, “absolutely the most amazing mittee also wants to In each case, the amount of oil spilled was Plan calls for. industry with “It was totally disgusting,” Martin said. “It place to live when you are interested in the expand the studies calculated by the party responsible for the spill It is only right that the party responsible for offshore and smelled and there were dead fish piled up to my environment, because the environment here is to understand more and the industry and government response the spill should mount and fund an appropri- underground waist along the shores. still pretty intact compared to the Lower 48.” about the effect of effort was sized to reflect these estimates. Each ately robust clean up. But it is not acceptable operations, it “The Buffalo incident was very much a for- “I really enjoy my work with the council dispersants on ecosys- time, the responsible party initially dramatically that industry should visibly lead the response, is difficult for mative experience for me in terms of my interest because a big part of the mission is to try to tems, particularly cold underestimated the spill size and the potential appear to be unchallenged when informing, governments in water quality.” protect that environment.” water ecosystems.” Paula Martin environmental impacts. or potentially misinforming, regulators and and regula- This event early in her life inspired her to “One of the things I like about the council’s Martin said. Nobody likes bad news, but industry’s trivi- the public on how serious a spill is, and then tors to have head to Berkley, California for college. It was approach is it gets the voice of the local commu- Another area of interest for Martin is the alizing and significantly underestimating the restrict public access to reports of damage and the expertise to one of the few schools in the country that had nity directly connected to the decision makers,” science committee’s work on aquatic nuisance magnitude and consequences of a problem it spill response information. independently Mark Swanson a program in aquatic entomology, where she Martin said, “so the citizens of Prince William species. These non-native species can travel from has caused doesn’t engender public confidence. Firing back at a skeptical media and public verify industry could study the use of insects as indicators of Sound have a voice in what happens in their port to port in the ballast water that ships take Estimating spill volumes can be extremely chal- with statistics like miles of boom and the num- estimates of spill severity and impact and to water quality. area. They may not have control over it at all on to help balance when they have no cargo, and lenging, but, when public access to informa- bers of boats and people deployed comes across direct appropriate spill response efforts with After completing graduate work at the times, but at least the council provides them a by attaching themselves to the outside hulls of tion and local as a smoke screen and doesn’t really answer transparency. Allowing industry to make many University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Martin seat at the table.” ships. Alaska has so far been spared the kinds Public trust requires community par- the questions that often need answering. Faced of the estimates and drive many of the “who spent several years as a college professor and Martin joined the council’s science commit- of devastating invasions that have occurred else- “ regulatory indepen- ticipation in spill with this scenario earlier this year, Montana’s gets what information” decisions during a spill instructor. tee last year. “I have been quite impressed with where, but it may be only a matter of time before response efforts governor removed his representatives from the response under the umbrella of the Unified Martin often used the case of the Exxon the focus of the group on issues of particular the state’s waters are successfully invaded by a dence and transpar- are severely lim- Unified Command, the spill response manage- Command further erodes public trust and is Valdez oil spill to spark conversations with her importance not just for Prince William Sound, harmful new species, threatening valuable native ency in disclosing the ited, it exacer- ment team made up of the government and not in the long term interests of the public, the students about the benefits and disadvantages but that have applications globally,” Martin said. species such as commercial fish. The council size of the problem bates mistrust. the responsible party. Public trust requires government, or of industry. that come with different energy resource choices. One example is the committee’s interest in has been part of a collaborative effort with the We live in regulatory independence and transparency in Alaska’s model of state-directed transpar- “The reality of accidents has to be part of the the use of chemical dispersants on oil-spills. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and how the public’s an environment disclosing the size of the problem and how the ency in incident response and the federally story when we think about the use of resources council has long had concerns about the use of and the San Francisco State University to monitor interests are being of readily avail- public’s interests are being protected. mandated citizen stakeholder involvement in oil because those accidents can have dramatic dispersants and their effectiveness in Alaskan for non-native tunicates and to study changes in able cameras In Alaska, I’m happy to report, we have spill prevention and response for Alaska’s Cook impacts and can be difficult to prevent,” Martin waters. After the unprecedented use of disper- native marine invertebrate populations. protected. ” and electronic a relatively high level of transparency during Inlet and Prince William Sound, put in place after said. sants during 2010’s spill in the Gulf of Mexico, “Alaska has shipping, those ships come from communications. Any significant visible -dis oil-spill responses. The Department of Environ- the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989, are good models “To try to plan for energy policies or research which Martin said is becoming more common, all over the world, and things get transported,” connect between reality and what is reported mental Conservation takes part in the Unified that address these recurring transparency and using approaches that assume that we won’t interest in dispersant research has become even Martin said. “Having some monitoring going is captured and becomes newsworthy. The Command. The department establishes a real- public trust issues. have accidents is probably not a good idea.” more of a priority. on so there is a chance for fast response is a public and media outcry is loud and predict- time public website where summaries of the spill With the national media reporting that Martin led and helped establish environ- “Not only has the group, over time, collected good thing.” able, but, with a few tweaks to the incident size estimate, descriptions of the actions taken, trust in our oil industry and our government management process, it could be prevented. and goals of the response team are posted. This is at historic lows, hindering the safe and envi- Educating Alaska’s youth is key to future of Sound Retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, information is the guts of what is called an “Inci- ronmentally responsible development of our national incident commander for the response dent Action Plan.” This information-sharing natural resources, isn’t it time to learn from past By BRUCE JAMES is one of the keys to preventing another disaster. to the Gulf spill, has publicly lamented what model seems to work and promote public trust. disasters and improve how effectively we pre- Executive Director Wrangell Institute for Science and Environ- he called the “social and political nullification Years later, one can still go back and see how, vent and respond to future spills by maximizing Wrangell Institute for Science & Environment ment has taken on that challenge. Along with of the National Response Plan” during that at any point in an Alaskan spill response, the transparency and accountability to the public? History is a mandatory part of high school our partners, the National Park Service, Bureau response. (The National Response Plan, which folks working in the public’s interest understood • Mark Swanson is executive director of the Prince curriculums to educate students how civilization of Land Management, Prince William Sound grew out of the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the magnitude of the problem and organized William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council has developed and to learn from past mistakes. Science Center and the Copper River Watershed As the often repeated phrase goes, “Failure to Project, we have annually conducted the Copper understand history will doom you to repeat it.” River Stewardship Program. This educational From Alyeska Pipeline Over twenty years after the Exxon Valdez, we event takes ten youths from the area on a ten day now have an entire generation of youths that did exploration of the watershed, discovering the Stewardship of Sound important to new SERVS director not live through the tragedy. As they finish their unique environment we live in and the threats to By ANDRES MORALES Marine Terminal. In these roles, I helped provide tiful place I education, they will begin to take management it. Our hope is to encourage this new generation Director of Ship Escort Response Vessel the council with information on operations and have ever positions that could have significant impact in a to become the stewards of this land in the future. System maintenance at the Terminal. sailed into. similar disaster. Educating this new generation Each year our program has focused on differ- Participants found coho smolt, Dolly Varden and Last fall, I was offered and accepted an We have a world-class response operation I have great ent parts of the Copper River area. In 2011, the a sculpin in the minnow traps they set along the opportunity to be interim Director at the Ship here in Prince William Sound. As SERVS direc- respect for key places were McCarthy, Valdez and Cordova. McCarthy Road. All photos courtesy of Copper River Escort and Response Vessel System (SERVS). tor, I want to ensure we continue to use the most the mission While in McCarthy, we learned about the special Stewardship 2011 team. As many of you know, this is a challenging job effective methods of response available. We’re of the coun- geology that created the fabulous copper deposits and is supported by a high-quality, dedicated looking at lessons learned from other spills, such cil. Indeed, of Kennecott and the misunderstood mosaic of different owners complicates the management of team. When the job was offered to me officially as the one in the Gulf of Mexico. The council has we share the land ownership in the basin. The multitude of the one resource that transcends all the boundar- in July, I did not hesitate to accept. I am excited been active in producing independent research same goal: ies, our rich runs of Pacific salmon. In Cordova, by the job, the mission, and the team. on these spill-related issues. Moving forward, I Safely trans- the program looked at the commercial fishery A little back- want to make sure this information is captured porting crude and related research and then spent some time Like members of the ground about and applied appropriately. oil through in the delta, hiking and canoeing in the Chugach “ me: I’ve worked I am personally committed to open commu- the Sound National Forest. council, we live here, in Prince Wil- nications with the council, and all stakeholders and protect- The highlight in Valdez for the students (and our families live here, liam Sound in Prince William Sound. Along with Scott Hicks, ing this spe- chaperones!) was the Columbia Glacier cruise. for more than the new Valdez Marine Terminal director, I’ll be cial ecosys- Stan Stephens took us through Columbia Bay and we want to make twenty years, meeting with Mark Swanson on a regular basis to tem we call Andres Morales and the Sound, pointing out the incredibly rich sure it is here for future and alongside discuss current and ongoing issues and concerns. home. This ecosystem that was impacted by the Exxon generations.” the Prince Wil- I’m also looking forward to continued input on stewardship is on the minds of everyone at Valdez disaster. Included in the tour was visual liam Sound drills, exercises and other activities of mutual Alyeska and nowhere more than here at SERVS. evidence of the damage and a discussion about Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council many of interest. Independent, constructive analysis of Like members of the council, we live here, our the oil that still remains unaccounted for today. those years. As general manager with Crowley our operations is valuable, and I believe it makes families live here, and we want to make sure it The students were impressed with the diversity Marine, I collaborated with the council on many us a better organization. is here for future generations. There is tremen- of the wildlife and expressed concern for its marine safety issues. I joined Alyeska in 2000, My very first job on a tanker brought me into dous common ground between us, and I look protection from another catastrophe. and worked in the Oil Movements and Storage Port Valdez, and since 1995 I’ve called it home. forward to bringing new energy and focus to The National Park Service staff explain the history Participants hold a chunk of ice aboard the Stan and the Maintenance departments at the Valdez Prince William Sound was and is the most beau- our relationship. of the mines during the students’ tour of Kennecott. Stephens Columbia Glacier cruise. See page 6, EDUCATION

Page 2 The Observer The Observer Page 3 Volume 21, No. 4 September 2011 September 2011 Volume 21, No. 4 Council staffer appointed to Swanson appointed to Valdez Students study Alaska’s coastal ecology and environment monitoring By JENNY HECKATHORN Peterson Bay and several tide pools. a campfire and state boating safety council Ports and Harbor Commission Biology Teacher The next morning, students roast marsh- Mark Swanson, the coun- “Mark’s background in naval Valdez High School were out the door early to hike to mallows. Alan Sorum, a Valdez project Office of Boating Safety. cil’s executive director has been architecture and marine engineer- Thanks to funding from the China Poot Bay for tide pooling Students manager for the citizens’ council, The council supports the depart- appointed to Valdez’s Ports and ing, along with his experience in citizens’ council, fifteen students activities and to conduct a survey woke early the was recently appointed by Alaska ment by reviewing and recom- Harbor Commission. Prince William Sound, makes him in my second year biology class of aquatic species found during low next morning Governor Parnell to a seat on the mending boating safety educational The commission advises the a good candidate for examining from Valdez High School attended a tide. This type of survey is done to be packed Boating Safety Advisory Council. materials and proposed boating Valdez City Council by studying issues at the harbor and making three day, two night Alaska Coastal from the high tide line to low tide before a hike to The boating safety council regulations, considering regional and recommending policies relating recommenda- Ecology program held at Peterson line, and shows where and how Otter Rock for consists of seven Alaska boaters boating safety needs and promoting to the city’s port and harbor and tions to the Bay Field Station near Homer this many marine invertebrates cur- another inter- appointed “on the basis of interest in boating safety education programs transportation. The commission City of Valdez,” past April. The students had been rently live in that area. Students tidal discov- public affairs, knowledge of boating throughout the state. It also advises looks at issues such as development, said Dorothy studying marine biology and learn- were amazed by the incredible ery experience issues as they relate to both safety the department on state, regional, design, operation and maintenance Moore, member ing monitoring techniques to help diversity of intertidal invertebrates during low and water of and national boating issues. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies staff member (right) dem- of the Valdez port, airport, small of the Valdez monitor our local port for invasive including colorful sponges, chitons, tide and were onstrates the starfish’s ability to grab arm hair on student Nick the state, and “We’re delighted and proud boat harbor, and others. City Council aquatic species. Christmas anemones, decorator accompanied Fischer. All photos by Jenny Heckathorn. good judg- that Alan’s been appointed to the The commission consists of and president The “Homer trip,” as it has crabs, green urchins, sea stars, and by marine biol- ment and abil- governor’s boating safety coun- seven members appointed by the of the citizens’ been popularly called, has become octopus. ogist Conrad Fields. Fields talked decide how their invertebrate lived, ity concerning cil,” said Mark Swanson, execu- mayor of Valdez for three year terms. council. Mark Swanson a favorite for many students even Once the tide came in, students to the students about the wonders what they ate, and how they repro- boating safety,” tive director of the council, “it’s a though it is academically rigorous were split into two groups. One of marine biology, recent discover- duced. Students, Center staff, and according to privilege to have someone of his and physically taxing. group learned about the geology ies, biomimicry (the examination chaperones laughed until they had the website of caliber and credibility on our staff Upon arrival in Homer, the of the area through activities and of nature for inspiration to solve tears in their eyes while presenting Alaska Depart- to help monitor and advise on safe Committee support in Valdez students were greeted by Center games designed to demonstrate human problems), and reasons for their “Invent-an-Invert”. ment of Natu- port and tanker operations in Prince office changes hands for Alaskan Coastal Studies’ staff the rock cycle and movement of studying marine biology as a career. After lunch, students cleaned Alan Sorum ral Resources’ William Sound.” members and boarded the Rainbow the earth’s crust. The other group He then helped students discover their yurts and the field station Long time staffer Connection, our water-taxi. On the visited an Alaska Native Dena’ina and identify organisms in the inter- and said good-byes to the wonder- Jacquelyn Kennedy left way to Peterson Bay, students were house site, held artifacts and imag- tidal zone. Once again, students ful staff members from the coastal Council is inviting proposals for the citizens’ council staff treated to the sight of a large male ined what it would be like to live were amazed by the extreme diver- studies center before departing on in May of this year. Ken- sea lion feasting on halibut right and subsist on the coast of Kache- sity of marine life, finding species the long trip home. educational projects related to mission nedy started work with off the dock in the boat harbor, and mak Bay. different from those discovered in I would like to thank the citi- Teachers, students and edu- response planning; or other topics the council in May 2006 got an up-close view and smell of After hiking back to the field China Poot Bay. After hiking back zens’ council for funding this oppor- cational groups, are you looking related to the council’s mission. as the Valdez project Gull Island’s seabirds before arriv- station, students completed a biodi- to the field station, students added tunity for my students to experience for a partner in a new or ongoing Funds may be awarded to manager assistant. She ing at the field station. Beautiful versity check-list, which included of the new species to the biodiversity a program like this at virtually no educational program? any student or educational group provided support to early spring weather allowed the all the species identified during the checklist and were amazed to dis- cost to themselves. And kudos to my The council is inviting propos- within the Exxon Valdez oil spill project managers and students to gather around the large tide pooling session and analyzed cover that they had found almost chaperone, Rob Johnson, who also als for projects to educate students region. Projects or activities must Terminal Operations fire pit for the orientation, rules, and and discussed the species survey. 90 different species! endured the more than 10 hours and in the Exxon Valdez oil spill region relate to council’s mission and and Environmental expectations for the next few days. Students realized just how unique Later that morning, students 1,000 miles of driving from Valdez about the council and topics relating responsibilities. Limited funding Monitoring and Port After settling into their yurts, this area is compared to Valdez and were divided up into teams and to Homer and back. to its mission. is available, therefore funds will be Operations and Vessel students donned snowshoes for a other coastal areas in Alaska. challenged to make up an imagi- Proposed topics could include, awarded to those proposals deemed Traffic Systems - Com forest ecology hike. Students wit- In the afternoon, the students nary marine invertebrate. Students but are not limited to: citizen most relevant to the mission of the mittee volunteers and Kennedy holds a tunicate monitoring plate that had nessed an area of forest recovering split into groups for the afternoon were given household objects such oversight; environmental impacts council. The successful proposer their projects. been deployed for the previous three months. Photo from a spruce bark beetle attack and marine ecology stations. Students as fly swatters, wire whisks,- col of the operation of the Alyeska will provide a direct link to our Kennedy assisted by Jeremy Robida. learned how some trees were able collected plankton using a special anders, sheets, and safety glasses. Pipeline Service Company terminal mission and will provide a tangible with tunicate monitoring efforts in efforts in Valdez and helped with to survive. After dinner, students finely meshed net, then observed While one person was dressed as in Valdez and the oil tankers that product, such as a report, article or Valdez as part of a larger project con- outreach and education presenta- explored the unique geology of and identified the organisms using the invertebrate, teams also had to call there; oil spill prevention and lesson plan. ducted by the Smithsonian Environ- tions in the Valdez schools. compound light microscopes and Past and ongoing projects have mental Research Center. Tunicate Taking her place is Anna Carey, dissection scopes. The Information and Education Com- included funding for: monitoring consists of deploying a a native of Wisconsin. Carey studied After learning about plankton, mittee saw this as a great opportunity brick with an attached plate into the biology at the University of Wiscon- students were then challenged to to teach students about Alaska’s • Alaska Geographic’s Sound coastal ecology and for them to learn water column, letting it sit for three sin Eau Claire and holds a Masters design their own plankton in a com- Stories: http://bit.ly/SoundStories about various monitoring methods. months, and then documenting and petition to see who could achieve • Prince William Sound Sci- in Environmental Science from the Awareness of these issues is vital photographing any organisms that ence Center’s Ocean Science and University of Idaho. Carey started “negative buoyancy” or the ability for the future protection of these Learning Expedition: http://bit.ly/ have attached themselves to the working with the council in May of to hover in the water column. Pieces important resources, to encourage OSLEarticle plate. Plates are deployed at vari- this year. of sponge, washers, toothpicks, and students to consider protection of • Green Crab Monitoring ous times throughout yarn were the building materials the environment in their future lives • Travel for students to pres- the year at the Valdez used to build the plankton and a and careers. ent at the council’s annual Science Marine Terminal, the Jenny Heckathorn and student Lacey large aquarium tank provided the -Patience Andersen Faulkner, Night: http://bit.ly/ScienceNight container dock, and the Albright on a monitoring field trip for “ocean” for testing. After dinner, committee chair, and member of Student Michael Smith standing on the the council’s board of directors • Students to attend the Youth small boat harbor. Ken- invasive species. students got time to relax around rock strata during the geology activity. Eco Forum and the Classrooms for nedy also assisted with Climate symposium green crab monitoring • Wrangell Institute for Science Council Board Meetings and Environment’s Copper River Right: Anna Carey. Stewardship program. (Page 2 of Below: Valdez council The citizens’ council board of directors meets three times annually. The this issue of The Observer) staff, committee and board January meeting is held in Anchorage, the May meeting in Valdez, and the The next deadline for submis- members gathered in May September meeting is rotated between the other communities affected by sions will be in December 2011. For to wish Kennedy farewell. the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This September’s meeting will be held in Kenai. Photo by Jeremy Robida. more information on this funding Here is the tentative board meeting schedule for the coming year: opportunity, please contact the JiYeon Im, Valdez High School student, January 20-21, 2012: Anchorage holds a sea urchin found on a class council’s Outreach Coordinator trip sponsored by the council in 2009. Linda Robinson: robinson@pwsr- May 3-4, 2012: Valdez Photo by Jenny Heckathorn. cac.org September 13-14, 2012: Seward

THE OBSERVER is a quarterly newsletter published by the Board meetings are open to public, and an opportunity for the public to pro- vide comments is provided at the beginning of each meeting. Agendas and Members of the citizens’ council’s board of directors stand outside the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. other meeting materials are available on the council web site at www.pwsr- Seldovia Conference Center in September 2010. Each September, the Except where credited to others, articles are written by council cac.org/about/boardintro.html. Or, contact either council office: Anchorage, council holds a public meeting in a different community affected by the 907-277-7222, or Valdez, 907-834-5000. Exxon Valdez oil spill. Photo by Amanda Johnson. staffer Amanda Johnson.

Page 4 The Observer The Observer Page 5 Volume 21, No. 4 September 2011 September 2011 Volume 21, No. 4 EDUCATION: Key to future environmental protection of Sound TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE: Cordova group petitions for support for citizen oversight ated with low flow. state and federal agencies together. “We know Alaskans are inter- was a smashing success. The stu- Continued from page 1 Continued from page 2 Less oil has been flowing He said he will always listen to ested in our operation, especially dents were exposed to many issues The organization is suggesting through the pipeline in recent years, Alaskans and get their ideas, but is given its importance to the state’s The next day we visited the in the area that threaten our fabu- a council consisting of “chapters,” from a maximum of 2.1 million not promoting changes to existing economy. We encourage citizen Valdez salmon hatchery and lous resources and what is being with each chapter responsible for barrels per day in the 80’s to about oversight at this time. input to Alyeska through numerous learned about the incredible run done to minimize those hazards. overseeing the pipeline in a specific 570,000 barrels today. According “I appreciate the value of citi- existing channels,” said Michelle of pink salmon that call the Sound We would like to thank our many watershed. to a recent study done by Alyeska zen involvement at the local level Egan, Alyeska’s Director of Corpo- home, then to Ship Escort Response sponsors and partners that have “Each geographic segment of Pipeline Service Co., which oper- and have supported the existing rate Communications. Vessel System, or SERVS, to be made this year’s program possible. the pipeline corridor deals with ates the pipeline and the Valdez regional citizens’ advisory coun- A link to the petition can be introduced to the changes to tanker Specifically, the citizens’ council’s different geographic conditions, tanker terminal, issues such as water cils,” Sen. Mark Begich said. “I’ve found on the Copper River Water- operations in the Sound since 1989. Youth Involvement program was and working in chapters would separating from the oil and freezing, also proposed updated funding for shed Project’s website: www. Then it was on to the Prince William instrumental in funding most of the enable the sub-groups to address wax buildup, and damaging frost them, along with stronger citizen copperriver.org. 343 members of Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Valdez portion of the trip to allow those specific conditions,” said Kate heaves can result from the lower involvement in Arctic outer conti- the public had signed it as of early Council to meet with their staff this important story to be told. It is Alexander, project and membership flow of oil. nental shelf development.” September. and learn some background of the our hope that through educational coordinator for the group. “For The pipeline crosses five major disaster and the council’s mission programs such as this trip, the next example, the North Slope deals tributaries of the Copper River. THE SPILL: Lessons learned in college classroom to help prevent reoccurrence. Our generation of leaders will take on with permafrost and the southern The organization fears that a break final stop on that busy June day paring questions that they want to the challenges our environment chapters would deal more with in the line near any of these rivers Continued from page 1 was the Coast Guard station that ask her. The questions can be about faces in the years to come. seismic activity.” could send oil into the Copper River monitors tanker traffic travelling disaster of 1989, which many of my Alaska Native life or about one of For more information on the Copper The organization has a working before an effective cleanup effort through Valdez Arm and the Sound. students recall. By inviting students the multiple facets of the Exxon River Stewardship Program and other mission, a modified version of the could get going. A study done by Overall, the 2011 edition of our Institute programs, visit www.wise- into the lives and concerns of people Valdez disaster. The students enjoy At SERVS the stewardship team learned about tanker escorts in the Sound. Prince William Sound council’s mis- the organization projected that a Copper River Stewardship Program edu.org. who live about the area of Prince talking with Patience and truly sion: “Citizens promoting the safe spill in the Copper River watershed William Sound, this book creates appreciate her knowledge; I do too. transportation of oil and gas from could travel 23 miles downriver in awareness in students of what the Patience recommended, in the the North Slope to Valdez.” six hours, which is Alyeska’s esti- people really went through, as live- spirit of “potlatch”, that THE SPILL “We plan to draw largely on mated spill response time. lihoods and life changed overnight. be recycled. So when the class is Alaska’s existing councils’ experi- The Prince William Sound citi- This book demonstrates that, done, each student writes a short ences and lessons,” said Alexander. zens’ council does not oversee the while people may suffer trials and reflection in his or her copy of the The group is proposing to use pipeline, as its purview is limited tribulations, their spirit can pull book. I collect the books at our pot- the southern-most segment, the to the oil terminal in Valdez and them together. THE SPILL tells latch and pass them on to the next Copper River watershed, as a pilot the tankers that use it. However, stories of courageous people, of group of students. run for the other chapters. the council has always supported hardship and hope, with hope tri- Potlatching has become a sort The petition is addressed to the concept of citizen oversight umphing in the end. of closing event at final sessions of the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of wherever a major industrial project I ask my students to write this class. I take care to make certain Representatives, the U.S. Congress, could threaten the environment. reflections on six persons whose that students understand that this U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and “The pipeline poses risks to experience of the Exxon Valdez event is this to honor the Alaska Mark Swanson discusses the council’s mission with the Copper River Steward- The team was impressed with the Coast Guard’s commitment to safety during Mark Begich, Rep. Ed Markey of Alaska’s environment and economy disaster appear in the book: two Native heritage. We smudge with ship team over lunch. their visit to the Coast Guard station. Massachusetts, Alaska State Senator similar to those from the terminal professionals such as journalists, white sage, we have a fire, and stu- Johnny Ellis, President of Alyeska and tankers in Prince William sociologists, or civic leaders; two dents bring Alaskan Native foods, Pipeline Company Thomas Barrett, Sound,” said Mark Swanson, execu- Alaska Natives, and two individu- which include pilot bread, berries, nuts, venison jerky, and smoked and Alyeska Corporate Communi- tive director of the council. “In fact, als whose narratives appeal to them in a special way. Before the class salmon roll. cation Director Michelle Egan. The spills from the southern section of ends, they share who they chose Nature permitting, this event group is asking for passage of leg- the pipeline could actually carry oil 2011 Marine Firefighting Symposium to write about. This way, we get a occurs outdoors on the shores islation that authorizes and funds into the Sound. So we think citizen good cross-section of people and of Lake Michigan. I usually read Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is sponsoring the independent citizen oversight for oversight for the pipeline is a great their personal experiences. names from an honor roll—people 6th Land-based Marine Firefighting Symposium the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. idea and encourage similarly con- While reading THE SPILL, who helped with the oil spill, and The Copper River organization cerned citizens to sign the petition.” students watch Dr. Riki Ott’s film, significant persons who contribute in Valdez, Alaska, October 4-6, 2011. said it is concerned about recent Sen. Mark Begich said that, “Black Wave.” People of the Sound to advancing respect and honor for leaks and spills and worries that when it comes to the Trans-Alaska Through this program, 50-75 firefighters and responders from Prince William Sound and other who appear in the film also share Alaska Native culture. major spills are more likely due to Pipeline System, the Joint Pipeline Alaska coastal communities will be provided hands-on classroom and field training opportuni- their experiences more pointedly in We light candles in a talking an aging pipeline and issues associ- Office is a unique entity bringing all THE SPILL. This book really puts circle fashion and each student ties that are tailored for the challenges faced in Alaska. the face of reality on the whole reads a paragraph of his or her Topics include: shipboard basics, cruise ship NEW TANKERS: Expected to begin service in event. Doing the reading and the own, often relating to the Exxon awareness, fire plans and ships crew coordi- watching at the same time shows Valdez spill. Patience gives us her how a community that relies on time (and sometimes hand-made nation, politics of a marine incident, and more. Prince William Sound in 2014 the water is filtered and then treated the connections among its members goodies, too) and each class fashions Continued from page 1 Classes will be a mix of hands-on training and with low levels of hypochlorite suf- and on its threatened renewable something to send her. classroom lectures. The new tankers will be capable ficient to eliminate non-indigenous resources pulls together in order So I continue to learn with my of ballast water exchange using species. SeaRiver plans to use an to survive. students and we enjoy a pleas- either the “pump-out and refill” initial dosage of 5 to 8 parts per Patience Andersen Faulkner has ant, reciprocal relationship with Contact Project Manager Alan Sorum method or the “flow-through” million of hypochlorite and they been our teleconference speaker. Cordova, Valdez, and all of Prince Students anticipate this event, pre- William Sound. for more information about the event: method, which entails pumping sea expect that level to drop to 3 to 5 907.834.5020 or water into segregated ballast water parts per million during transit. The [email protected] tanks and allowing it to overflow hypochlorite will be neutralized Subscribe to The Observer! back into the sea until three times using sodium bisulfite, a common Want to keep up with the news about oil tankers, oil spill prevention and the vessel’s total ballast water capac- food preservative, when the ballast response, activities of the citizens’ council, and other issues related to oil transportation in Alaska waters? Now you can receive The Observer Thank you to the generous sponsors of the 2011 Marine Firefighting Symposium! ity has been pumped. However, it water is discharged. is expected that later this year the The ships will have an anti- through your mailbox or your inbox! Coast Guard will require any new fouling coating applied to the hull. In an effort to reduce waste and conserve valuable natural resources, oil tanker to meet a rule set by the An anti-fouling coating slows the the Observer has launched an email edition of International Maritime Organiza- growth of organisms that attach The Observer. If you would like to sign up to tion’s Marine Environment Protec- to the hull. SeaRiver is consider- receive The Observer by email, please visit our website, www.pwsrcac.org or scan the code with tion Committee Convention of 2004. ing the use of newer low-friction your smart phone’s code reader! Should this happen, SeaRiver’s Teflon-type coatings that can slow design allows for an on-board bal- the attachment of marine organ- If you prefer the good old fashioned printed ver- last water filtration and chlorination isms, once the ships reach their first sion, send an email to [email protected] unit to be added. With this unit, as dry-dock period five years after with your name and full mailing address. Or you can call us at 1-800-478-7221. Thank you! new ballast water enters the tank, entering service.

Page 6 The Observer The Observer Page 7 Volume 21, No. 4 September 2011

Community Corner Out and about in the communities Prince William Sound By LINDA ROBINSON represents the city on the citizens’ Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council Outreach Coordinator council board, assisted Mark The Port Graham Corpora- Swanson in hosting a lunch for Council tion is the newest member entity Whittier’s mayor, interim city The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is manager, harbormaster of the Prince William an independent, non-profit corporation formed after the 1989 Exxon Sound Regional Citi- and public works direc- Valdez oil spill to minimize the environmental impacts of the trans- zens’ Advisory Coun- tor on August 19. The Alaska pipeline terminal and tanker fleet. cil. Diane Selanoff is purpose was to update The council has 19 member organizations, including communities their representative on the city on council affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill and groups representing Alaska our board of directors. issues and to see if they Native, aquaculture, environmental, commercial fishing, recreation This past July 29 and had any concerns. Any and tourism interests in the spill region. 30, executive director communities that wish The council is certified under the federal Oil Pollution Act of Mark Swanson and I to discuss concerns or 1990 as the citizen advisory group for Prince William Sound, and visited Port Graham interests to the council operates under a contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. The to discuss oil response are welcome to contact contract, which is in effect as long as oil flows through the pipeline, and prevention issues me and I can arrange guarantees the council’s independence, provides annual funding, with the corporation’s Linda Robinson informational meetings and ensures the council the same access to terminal facilities as state board of directors and in your community. and federal regulatory agencies. Lloyd Stiassny, president and CEO of the corporation. Education kit available The council’s mission: Citizens promoting We have received an educa- On the first day of our visit, environmentally safe operation of tional kit from the Kachemak Bay the village’s annual Celebration the Alyeska terminal and associated tankers. Research Reserve called “Could it of Life was going on. It included Happen Here? Coastal Mapping day-long family oriented activities & Oil Spill Response Activities for Board of Directors and a Native food cook-off. Board Grades 4-7.” This kit was used in Pres.: Dorothy Moore - City of Valdez member Diane Selanoff was one of April for a discovery day lab in Vice Pres.: Pat Duffy - Alaska State Chamber of Commerce the lucky judges! That evening the Homer and is a multi-station kit Secretary: Thane Miller - Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corp. English Bay Band played at a com- that demonstrates habitat map- Treasurer: Sheri Buretta - Chugach Alaska Corporation munity gathering. On Saturday, ping, oil spill response activity, and we participated in the corpora- Al Burch - Kodiak Island Borough marine animal rescue. This kit will tion’s board meeting. We were met Jane Eisemann - City of Kodiak be available for loan to teachers in Larry Evanoff - Community of Chenega Bay with many questions and much our region. Requests for council Patience Andersen Faulkner - Cordova District Fishermen United interest in the council and our staff to bring the kit and assist with John S. French - City of Seward activities. We are looking forward the presentations can be sent to me. Cathy Hart - Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association to continuing to communicate with And remember that we have two Marilynn Heddell - City of Whittier this member organization, and other curriculums on our website. Blake Johnson - Kenai Peninsula Borough with Diane Selanoff and Lloyd Steve Lewis - City of Seldovia Stiassny, to respond to some of Volunteers needed! Iver Malutin - Kodiak Village Mayors Association their concerns about spill response We are again looking for vol- Thane Miller - Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation and other oil related issues. unteers to sit on our committees. Walter Parker - Oil Spill Region Environmental Coalition Port Graham, a mostly Alutiiq Committees include Information Diane Selanoff - Port Graham Corporation community of about 177 people, and Education; Port Operations Stan Stephens - City of Valdez predates the Russians who arrived and Vessel Traffic Systems; Oil Roy Totemoff - Community of Tatitlek in the 1700s. Residents live primar- Spill Prevention and Response; Rochelle van den Broek - City of Cordova ily a subsistence lifestyle. Port Terminal Operations and Environ- John Velsko - City of Homer Graham is located southwest of mental Monitoring; and Scientific Seldovia, is next to Nanwalek, Advisory. Please contact me if Staff and is only accessible by plane you are interested in joining one Mark Swanson, Executive Director or boat. A cannery was built in of our committees. 1911 but burned in Anchorage 1960. It was rebuilt in Joe Banta, Project Manager 1968 and sold to the Gregory Dixon, Financial Manager village corporation. Amanda Johnson, Project Manager Stan Jones, Director of Administration and External Affairs In 1998 the hatchery Tom Kuckertz, Project Manager and cannery were Serena Lopez, Project Manager Assistant again destroyed Barbara Penrose, Administrative Assistant by fire. They were Linda Robinson, Outreach Coordinator rebuilt again but are Linda Swiss, Project Manager currently not in use. There is one school Valdez with approximately Jean Cobb, Administrative Assistant 20 students, and Jennifer Fleming, Executive Assistant there is also a health Anna Carey, Project Manager Assistant clinic. Above: Old pier at Port Graham. Below: Approach- Roy Robertson, Project Manager In Whittier, Mari- ing scenic Port Graham from the air. Jeremy Robida, Project Manager lynn Heddell, who Photos by Linda Robinson. Donna Schantz, Director of Programs Alan Sorum, Project Manager

3709 Spenard Road, Suite 100 Box 3089 / 130 S. Meals, Suite 202 Anchorage AK 99503 Valdez AK 99686 Phone: 907-277-7222 Phone: 907-834-5000 Toll-free: 800-478-7221 Toll-free: 877-478-7221 Fax: 907-277-4523 Fax: 907-835-5926

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