Chenega Bay - Cordova - Homer - Kenai Peninsula Borough - Kodiak - Kodiak Island Borough - Kodiak Village Mayors - Seldovia - Seward - Tatitlek - Valdez - Whittier

The Observer VVOLUMEOLUME 11, 12, N NO.O 3/S. 2/MEPTEMBERAY 2002 AK Chamber of Commerce - AK Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Assoc. - Chugach Alaska Corp. - Cordova District Fishermen United - OSREC - PWS Aquaculture Corp. Study: Previous research underestimated toxicity of INSIDE North Slope oil in water by ignoring effects of sunlight Volunteer profile: OSPRC’s By Lisa Ka’aihue Karl Pulliam calls b-ball, p. 2 Council staff New research sponsored by the Observer gets color, p. 2 citizens’ council calls into question years of oil toxicity testing because Staff changes in council the older studies failed to account p. 2 offices, for the effects of sunlight present in the natural environment. Devens: Shippers do The researchers concluded right thing on downstream that exposure to the ultraviolet response, p. 3 radiation in sunlight significantly Alyeska Viewpoint: Ballast increases the toxicity of oil to water system’s 25 years of marine organisms, regardless of successful operation, p. 4 whether the oil has been treated with chemical dispersants. This apparatus was used to expose herring eggs to North Slope crude oil in the council-sponsored phototoxicity study. Photo courtesy of Dr. Mace Barron. New council president seeks As a result, the researchers businesslike operation, p. 4 recommend that photoenhanced exposure to ultraviolet light is so did not trigger photoenhanced toxicity should be considered in called photoenhanced toxicity, and toxicity in the oil being tested. New commander for Alaska determining the risks and injuries a chemical that exhibits it is called The latest research was con- Coast Guard, p. 4 of spilled oil, and in the selection phototoxic. Previous studies of oil ducted by toxicologist Dr. Mace of oil spill responses. toxicity were conducted under flu- Barron of P.E.A.K. Research in Community Corner: Visit to The phenomenon of a chemi- orescent lighting, which contains Kodiak ComFish, p. 8 cal becoming more toxic under little or no ultraviolet light and See p. 5, Phototoxicity Alyeska to cut 300 jobs, will largely spare SERVS and terminal maintenance budget Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. Alyeska said the cuts. owner companies, the North Slope last month announced a reorgani- about 50 staff posi- Alyeska said the oil producers. zation that will see layoffs of 300 tions would be cut changes would elimi- The changes will see the relo- people and the transfers of others in Valdez, 60 from nate duplication of cation of at least one face famil- to new work sites. Fairbanks and 40 from functions between its iar to the citizens’ council: Greg The shake-up affects all aspects Anchorage. In addi- three offices and cen- Jones, now head of Alyeska’s of Alyeska’s operations, from the tion, Alyeska said, its tralize operations. That, Valdez operations, will move to North Slope to Prince William contractor workforce according to Alyeska Fairbanks to become Senior Vice Sound to the corporate headquar- would be cut by about President and CEO President of Operations. In that ters in Anchorage. But company 150 positions, and an David Wight, should position, he will be in charge of officials told the citizens’ council unspecified number both save money and operations and maintenance for the that the Ship Escort/Response of workers would be improve operations. pipeline, as well as SERVS and the Vessel System in Valdez would be transferred to Anchor- David Wight “The new organiza- Valdez tanker terminal. virtually unaffected, as would be age and Fairbanks. tion is better structured The council does not involve the budget for maintenance at the “The impact to the communi- to support operations at the Valdez itself in Alyeska’s business deci- tanker terminal there. ties won’t be known until the staff Marine Terminal and along the sions, said Executive Director John However, the effects on staffing selection process is complete and pipeline,” Wight said in the state- Devens, but is concerned that the and operations at the terminal itself the number of positions to be trans- ment. shake-up not undermine safety. were still unclear at Observer press ferred is determined,” Alyeska said Alyeska runs the pipeline, time. in a prepared statement announcing tanker terminal and SERVS for its See page 3, REORGANIZE BAT bill overturns ruling in Lakosh case Gov. Tony Knowles in mid- NON PROFIT ORG. April signed into law a bill revers- U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK ing a state Supreme Court ruling PERMIT NO. 836 on Best Available Technology regulations. As a result, the state Depart- ment of Environmental Con- servation can continue to hold that a company is using the best available technology if it can show on paper that it can clean up a 300,000-barrel oil spill in 72 hours. See p. 5, BAT Gov. Knowles Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Volume 12, No. 2 Volunteer Profile Seldovia volunteer juggles oil-spill work with rural basketball broadcasting Karl Pulliam still remembers to local radio stations or – on a the moment 13 years ago when he couple of occasions – just to audi- and villagers from Nanwalek won ences gathered at the local high a “small victory” over the Exxon school. Valdez oil spill. He did 87 games this academic The spot was Dogfish Lagoon, year, he said, and got to know located in a pretty bay on the dozens of young athletes and their southwest tip of the Kenai Pen- coaches. insula, a few miles south of Nan- As a result, he says, people walek. The lagoon is a prized all over rural Alaska consider him subsistence and camping area almost a neighbor. Recently he for people from the area, valued was invited to an awards banquet for, among other things, the two in Unalaska. One thing he heard salmon streams that feed into it. from the Unalaskans: “Everybody By that day in late April 1989, always wonders when you lived oil from the Valdez had spread out here in Unalaska, because you hundreds of miles from Bligh Reef act like you know everybody.” and was entering . Pul- Pulliam is originally from liam was a supervisor for workers VOLUNTEER – Above, Karl Oregon, where he grew up in a from Port Graham and Nanwalek, Pulliam (in white shirt) chats Columbia River fishing family. He serving mostly as liaison between with Alyeska’s Joe Kuchin at a holds a degree in general science, citizens’ council board meet- the two villages and Exxon. ing. Right, Karl participates and fished commercially around Working with their skiffs, the in SERVS fishing vessel Alaska for about 10 years before village men used local logs to training in Kachemak Bay settling in Seldovia in the mid- create a homemade form of protec- in April 2002. Shown with 1980s. He is married to the former tive boom. Then they quit for the him aboard the Mainstay Nancy Meganack of Port Graham. is Martha Million of Jakalof night. Ferry Service. Photos by Stan They have two children. Theresa “The very next morning,” Jones and Steve Lewis, citizens’ is the oldest, and recently presented Pulliam said, “the last of the oil council. the Pulliams with a third grandson. fingers snuck around the bottom of Charles is 16, and a basketball the Kenai Peninsula and came into player. In one contest this season, the lagoon on the tide. It lapped up ter the program under which a fleet involved for several years with he was chosen player of the game, on the boom, but it didn’t go over. of fishing vessels would be called the Cook Inlet Regional Citi- leading to an on-the-air interview It was a big deal to have stopped out in case of an oil spill. Money zens’ Advisory Council, first as a of athlete Charles Pulliam by it, one of those small victories, and from the contract had helped SOS director, then as a member of the announcer Karl Pulliam. there weren’t many.” maintain the office it used not only group’s Environmental Monitoring “I thought, ‘Well, this is kind of For Pulliam, as for many for the fishing vessel program, Committee. neat, except I don’t get to hear it,” Alaskans, the Valdez disaster was but also for its activities as a spill “I enjoyed it, but there was too Karl Pulliam said. a turning point. The former com- responder. much science,” Pulliam said. “It For the foreseeable future, Pul- mercial fisherman is still involved Pulliam says the organization was not the nuts and bolts of how liam plans to continue the business today in oil-spill work as project is surviving. It has cut expenses, do you stop a spill from damaging of his life as usual: calling bas- manager for the Seldovia Response partly by putting staff on a part- things. That’s what I wanted, so ketball games, enjoying the small- Team. time schedule. It will seek income OSPRC was a natural for me.” town pleasures of Seldovia, and The group – still known as from other activities, such as train- Pulliam has recently found staying active in oil-spill response. SOS because of its original name, ing. And when the fishing vessel himself mildly famous in rural “After working with OSPRC, Seldovia Oil Spill Response Team contract comes up again in a little Alaska because of his latest career: I’ve come to have a better under- – was recently called out to place under three years, SOS will likely broadcasting high school basket- standing of the Prince William containment boom when a fishing bid in an effort to get it back, he ball games on radio. Sound RCAC and the Cook Inlet boat sank in Seldovia’s harbor. said. He bought the business a RCAC, and the role of citizens in “It’s one of those part-time jobs Pulliam has been on the couple of years ago through an making changes,” Pulliam said. that takes full time,” Pulliam said. citizens’ council’s Oil Spill old coaching friend. He travels to “Without this forum, the changes A few months ago, SOS suf- Prevention/Response Committee, games featuring teams from the that have occurred wouldn’t have fered a setback when it lost its con- or OSPRC, since early 1999. state’s smaller high schools and occurred. I can guarantee you tract with Alyeska to help adminis- Before joining, he was transmits a feed by telephone back that.”

Staff changes reshuffle roster in council’s offices Observer gets a colorful makeover A series of comings, project manager for com- Regular readers of the the previous black-and- goings and reassignments mittee support. Observer will notice a dif- white version. have changed the job titles Jennifer Fleming is ferent look in this issue. For another, the turn- – and some of the faces – on becoming Executive Assis- Most striking is the around is much shorter. the citizens’ council staff. tant. change to full color pho- We can now get the paper Tony Parkin, a Marine Tamara Byrnes is tographs. But we’ve also off the press the same day Environmental Geoscientist becoming Administrative switched paper. We now we take the files to the with over 20 years experi- Assistant in the Valdez print on newsprint, the printer, versus eight work- ence, was hired as project office. same as most daily and ing days before. manager in the Valdez office Shannon Guthrie is weekly newspapers. If you have a com- overseeing oil spill drills. becoming a project manager Why change? For ment on the new look, let Several existing staff- in the Anchorage office. She one thing, we’re saving us know. You can use the ers have taken new assign- is replacing Andrea Archer, money. Even with color information on the back ments, as follows: who resigned the position in photos, the newsprint ver- page to contact Stan Jones, Dan Gilson is becoming March. Tony Parkin sion costs much less than Observer editor.

Page 2 The Observer The Observer Page 3 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Volume 12, No. 2 Oil shippers do the right thing on contingency planning outside the Sound By John Devens this unrealistic assumption. staging areas would be set up, structure now in place facilitates Executive Director I’m happy to report now that, and equipment would be moved the resolution of disputes like In the last issue of the after a cooperative effort by the into outlying communities as the this. Without it, this issue could Observer, we wrote of our coun- citizens’ council, BP, the shipping response progressed. easily have dragged on indefi- cil’s deep concern over an effort companies and the Alaska Depart- I think this issue and its out- nitely, leading to gridlock and by North Slope crude oil shippers ment of Environmental Conserva- come illustrate some important perhaps even litigation. to eliminate planning for oil-spill tion, the contingency points about the oil In short, it is an example of response outside Prince William plans have been transportation system exactly how the process devel- Sound. revised to provide for assembled since the oped since 1989 is supposed to The industry move surfaced response efforts out- Exxon Valdez spill of work. when the shipping companies filed side the Sound that are 1989. The contingency plans are their proposed new tanker con- similar to those laid For one thing, it now out for public review, and tingency plans in February with out in previous plans. shows the importance we will, as always, be offering the Alaska Department of Envi- Under the revised of citizen involvement detailed comments on what they ronmental Conservation. Unlike plans, representatives in the process. It was contain. As part of our analysis, past contingency plans, the new of the spiller would citizens who noticed we will consider whether or not ones assumed that, even in a spill reach downstream that the proposed more should be done to prepare larger than the Exxon Valdez, no communities such as John Devens new plans omitted for a spill response outside the oil would escape Prince William Seward, Homer and downstream response, Sound. However, the plans, as Sound and therefore the shipping Kodiak in the first three days after identified it as a critical issue, and offered to the public, are much companies did not need to plan a spill to begin identifying pro- spearheaded the effort to bring better documents than they would for oil-spill cleanup outside the tection priorities and equipment the plans back to prior standards. have been had citizens not been Sound. We objected vigorously to needs. Field command posts and For another, it shows how the on watch.

REORGANIZE: Alyeska is downsizing itself again

Continued from Page 1 “Alyeska is under constant pressure from the owner compa- nies to cut costs, which could lead to a reduction in safety margins,” Devens said. “We’ll be watching to see that staffing is not cut to unsafe levels. We’re also con- cerned that the inevitable distrac- tions created by the transition could undermine safety.” NERD BOYS -- Peter Armato and Dick Tremaine, members of the Scientific The changes, to be completed Advisory Committee, don cool glasses to look the part. Photo by Linda Robinson. by the end of the year, will reduce Alyeska’s total workforce to about 900. The company’s last CUTS -- How many jobs will be cut at reorganization was in 1997, when the tanker terminal, shown here, isn’t over 400 jobs were eliminated. known yet. Photo courtesy Alyeska.

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Port Fidalgo (near the village of Tatitlek) was the scene of an April 25 drill testing Return to: nearshore response capabilities. Here, in Landlocked Bay, crew members of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council fishing vesselKanak work on a minibarge as a skimmer collects “oil” from within 3709 Spenard Road, #100 containment boom and pumps it via hose over the Kanak’s deck to the barge. Anchorage AK 99503 Fax: 907-277-4523 Photo by Joe Banta.

Page 2 The Observer The Observer Page 3 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Volume 12, No. 2 Ballast water system reaches quarter-century mark in successful operation By Greg Jones (NPDES) permit has reviewed the separation tank to reduce the risks is to understand the environmen- Senior Vice President BWTF with increasing rigor, and associated with tank bottom corro- tal dynamics associated with Port Valdez Business Unit has imposed new requirements on sion and mitigate the risk of an oil Valdez and provide information to This year Alyeska will be its operation. The expertise we’ve spill. This represented the largest citizens and regulatory agencies on celebrating the 25th anniversary of developed in response has resulted tank lift ever accomplished in the the status of change or observed the operation of the Trans-Alaska in the BWTF achieving a perfect U.S. Last year we completed main- impacts. This long-standing Pipeline System. During this time EPA National Pollutant Discharge tenance on the six pressure reten- monitoring program has provided there have been many milestones Elimination System permit com- tion tanks used in the Dissolved Air a wealth of knowledge concerning and remarkable accomplishments pliance record for the last 5 years. Flotation system and replaced the the various ecosystems found in the but one story stands out that exem- In addition, the Bal- entire recovered crude Port and is available to the public plifies the hard work and dedication last Water Team has Alyeska Viewpoint piping system. This through the Environment and of people striving to continuously received Alaska Water year we plan to inspect, Natural Resource Institute, part of improve the system. and Wastewater Man- repair and raise another the University of Alaska system. In The Ballast Water Treatment agement Association ballast water gravity recent years, Alyeska has worked Facility (BWTF), located at the awards for excellence. separation tank, repair closely with the citizens’ council to Valdez Marine Terminal, has been Improvements that 42-inch ballast piping ensure a thorough understanding of continuously operating since that have contributed to and perform mainte- the BWTF and the integrity of our initial barrel of oil was loaded our outstanding record nance on the Biological monitoring program. almost 25 years ago. During the include the addition of Treatment Tanks. Although there have been rare succeeding years the BWTF has a biological treatment A comprehensive short term environmental incidents undergone a succession of improve- system designed to environmental monitor- associated with the BWTF the ments designed to achieve the remove soluble hydro- Greg Jones ing program has been overall assessment of 25 years of highest level of treatment possible carbons from the ballast in effect for over 20 operating has concluded that there to ensure the protection of the envi- water and the addition of special- years to ensure the BWTF dis- has been no observable adverse ronment. Over the years Alyeska ized process monitoring tools to charge is not creating an adverse environmental impact to Port has worked with the EPA, Alaska ensure all aspects of the treatment impact to Port Valdez. From the Valdez attributed to the BWTF. As Department of Environmental system are operating as designed. initial baseline studies in the early we begin the process for NPDES Conservation and Prince William An ongoing inspection and repair 1970’s to the most recent moni- permit renewal, we believe that Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory program ensures the BWTF piping toring activities in 2001 Alyeska these studies validate the commit- Council to develop the standards and system components are in good has consulted with the University ment to safe and environmentally for operating the BWTF. Each working order and system integ- of Alaska, Fairbanks Institute of responsible operation of the BWTF renewal of the National Pollut- rity is intact. In 2000 we raised a Marine Sciences. The purpose of shared by Alyeska and the mem- ant Discharge Elimination System 460,000-barrel ballast water gravity this long-term monitoring program bers of the BWTF asset team. New president of citizens’ council seeks businesslike operation New commander Steve Lewis of Seldovia was heads Alaska Coast elected president of the Prince William Sound Regional Citi- Guard operations zens’ Advisory Council at the Rear Admiral James W. board’s March quarterly meeting Underwood is assuming command in Anchorage. of the Coast Guard’s District 17, Lewis has represented the which covers Alaska. He replaces City of Seldovia on the council Rear Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, since March 1999, and was its who is moving to Washington, vice president before his elec- D.C. to become Vice Comman- tion to the presidency. dant of the Coast Guard. The other offices of the This will not be Underwood’s council’s executive committee first tour of duty in Alaska. In the were filled as follows: early 1980s, he commanded the Vice president: Dennis The council’s new executive committee Coast Guard cutter Sweetbrier in Lodge, representing the City of was elected at the March board meeting Cordova. Seward. in Anchorage. Clockwise from upper left: Among District 17’s responsi- Secretary: Pete Kompkoff, Steve Lewis, president; Dennis Lodge, bilities is reviewing the citizens’ representing the Community of vice president; Jane Eisemann, treasurer; council’s annual application for Chenega. Pete Kompkoff, secretary; and members recertification under the Oil Pollu- Treasurer: Jane Eisemann, at large Tom Copeland, Paul McCollum, tion Act of 1990. representing the City of Kodiak. and Stan Stephens. Members at Large: Stan Ste- THE OBSERVER is the phens, Alaska Wilderness Recre- quarterly newsletter of ation and Tourism Association; the Prince William Sound Paul McCollum, City of Homer; Regional Citizens’ Advisory Tom Copeland, Oil Spill Region Council. Except where noted, Environmental Coalition. articles are written by Stan Lewis, the new president, Jones, public information holds a bachelor of science manager. Questions, degree in petroleum engineering comments and suggestions with a minor in oceanography. should be directed to him He has experience with offshore by mail to the council’s operations, environmental pro- Anchorage office, by email to tection, scientific studies, gov- [email protected], or by a ernmental relations and public call to 907-273-6230. relations. For a free subscription, “I think the board now real- and to move forward as a more professional while maintain- contact the council using the izes it is necessary to put the mature organization,” Lewis ing our strong volunteer basis. I information on the back page, animosities engendered by the said. “Our challenge now is to believe that I was elected to help or mail in the form appearing Exxon Valdez spill behind us become more business-like and facilitate this growth.” elsewhere in this issue.

Page 4 The Observer The Observer Page 5 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Volume 12, No. 2 BAT: Bill changes law to match 1997 regulations for the conference and is sepa- Continued from Page 1 rate from the bill overturning the Supreme Court case. Because the That standard had been in state money would come from a fund regulations since 1997. But, in financed by a special crude oil tax February, the court held in a case and dedicated to such purposes, it brought by activist Tom Lakosh would not affect the general-fund that those regulations were not fiscal gap with which the Legisla- strict enough to comply with ture has been struggling this year. then-existing state law on Best At Observer press time, the Available Technology. The court Legislature had not taken up the said the law required a specific conference funding request and analysis of whether a company the outcome was unknown. The In Kodiak, scene of the annual ComFish show, these vessels await the coming was using the best technology Legislature is to adjourn May 14. of fishing season. See Community Corner, page 8. Photo by Linda Robinson. available. Merely meeting the 300,000-barrel/72-hour standard PHOTOTOXICITY: Study shows sunlight makes oil more toxic was insufficient, the court ruled. Continued from Page 1 The bill to change the law to match the regulations was intro- collaboration with the National duced soon after in the Alaska Oceanographic and Atmospheric Senate, and passed out of the Administration’s Auke Bay Labo- Legislature in early April. ratory in Juneau. The citizens’ council did not Pacific herring were chosen as the test species. Herring are not take a position for or against the only ecologically and economi- measure, Senate Bill 343, but did cally important in Prince William write several letters to Knowles Sound and Gulf of Alaska waters, and legislators cautioning against but are also known to be sensi- amending the bill to weaken tive to very low concentrations contingency-planning require- of Alaska North Slope crude oil. ments and urging that funding Herring were collected from Sitka be approved for a Best Available Sound, then spawned and fertilized Technology Conference. The in the laboratory. Herring eggs conference is required every five and larvae were exposed to various combinations of oil, dispersant, years under the 1997 regulations, and ultraviolet light in the labora- RESEARCH -- The council’s phototoxicity study was conducted at the Auke Bay with the first conference due this laboratory (above), near Juneau. Below, herring samples are exposed to sun- tory, and outdoors under sunlight. light to test whether it increases the toxicity of North Slope crude oil in seawater. year. The researchers concluded Photos courtesy of Dr. Mace Barron. “Because a wide array of that weathered North Slope crude stakeholders – including regula- kills or injures herring embryos tors, the oil industry, technology and larvae at concentrations of vendors, environmental groups, less than 10 parts per billion, even and citizen groups – would par- without the extra punch from sun- ticipate in the conference, it would light. ensure a speedy and effective Best But, the researchers concluded, the North Slope crude became two Available Technology process to 450 times as toxic when herring with a minimum of controversy,” larvae were exposed to sunlight Executive Director John Devens after being exposed to the oil. wrote in a letter to legislators in In one test, for example, late April. At Observer press time, herring larvae were exposed to the citizens’ council was seeking identical concentrations of oil in other Alaska organizations to sign the water for four days. When no the letter as well. sunlight was present, 38 percent of Knowles’ budget request to the the larvae were killed or injured. Legislatures includes $250,000 When sunlight was added, 95 per- cent were killed or injured. Photomodification would mean evidence of photomodification. Chemically dispersed oil Leland named to panel the oil itself changed, and became The researchers concluded Marilyn Leland, deputy direc- demonstrated similar or greater more poisonous, when exposed to that the Pacific herring used in the tor of the citizens’ council, has been phototoxicity, killing or injur- ultraviolet light. study are vulnerable to photoen- appointed to a seat on the federal ing 90 percent of the herring with Photosensitization would mean hanced toxicity because both the Invasive Species Advisory Commit- exposures as low as five hours of the oil, once lodged in the herring’s eggs and larvae are translucent, tee. sunlight over two days. tissues, would absorb the energy of allowing deep penetration of the The announcement was made by Another aspect of this research the ultraviolet radiation, increasing ultraviolet radiation. This study U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton was to understand how photoen- the damage to the organism. suggests that photoenhanced toxic- on April 1. hanced toxicity harmed the her- In this study, phototoxicity was ity may have had a role in the steep The committee advises the ring. Photoenhanced toxicity can found to occur only when oil resi- decline of herring populations National Invasive Species Council, occur through two mechanisms: dues were present in the herring’s Prince William Sound and the Gulf which coordinates federal activities photosensitization and photomodi- tissues, through the photosensiti- of Alaska after the Exxon Valdez concerning invasive species. fication. zation mechanism. There was no oil spill.

Page 4 The Observer The Observer Page 5 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Volume 12, No. 2 Phillips christens another new double-hull vessel for use in Valdez trade Phillips Petroleum on April 13 are due in 2004 and 2005. christened its third Millennium Double-hull tankers are a long- Class double-hulled tanker, the sought goal of the citizens’ coun- Polar Discovery. The ceremony cil, which worked to see that they took place at the Northrop Grum- were required by the Oil Pollution man Ship Systems Avondale ship- Act. Double hulls can prevent yard in New Orleans. or significantly reduce oil spills Phillips is building five Mil- caused by groundings or colli- lennium Class tankers for the sions, according to various studies. North Slope crude oil trade, as The Millennium tankers are required by the Oil Pollution Act designed to transport crude oil of 1990. The Polar Discovery from Valdez to the West Coast of cost $168 million, according to the United States and to Hawaii. Phillips. Besides double hulls, the ves- Phillips’ first Millennium Class sels have two independent engine double-hull, the Polar Endeav- rooms, twin propellers and twin our, started service last July. This rudders. They are 895 feet long summer the Polar Resolution will and can carry just over a million enter the trade, with the Discovery barrels of oil. They are operated to join the fleet next year. The by Polar Tankers, the shipping Ballons flew as Phillips Petroleum’s new double-hull, the Polar Discovery, company’s final two double-hulls subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum. was christened April 13 in New Orleans. Photo courtesy Phillips Petroleum.

Publications, letters and reports are available from the citizens’ council Reports 600.105.020301.TorgersonBA Copies of most council documents are available to the public at no Annual Drill Monitoring Report. T.doc cost. Contact the council’s Anchorage office (see back page) to order. 3/15/2002. 752.431.020315. Letter to USCG regarding Fed- DrillMonitor.pdf 2001 Drill Monitoring Con- .020318.WightAPSCSOS.doc eral lightering requirements Report on Photoenhanced Toxicity tractor Annual Report by Tim Letter addressing Air Quality in and the relocation of the 570 of Aqueous Phase and Chemi- Jones. 4/2/2002. 752.105.020 Port Valdez and the city of lightering barge. 2/22/2002. cally-Dispersed Weathered 402.KuchinSERVS.doc Valdez. 3/18/2002. 953.105.0 700.105.020222.USCGlighter Alaska North Slope Crude Oil Comments on Proposed Nontank 20318.RangerAirQua.doc .doc to Pacific Herring Eggs and Vessel Contingency Planning PWSRCAC’s position regarding Recertification Application pack- Larvae. Dr Mace G, Barron, et Regulations Letter of support Senate Bill 343. 3/11/2002. age for 2002. 1/28/2002. 140. al. 2/22/2002. 955.431.02022 to ADEC on CIRCAC’s com- 600.105.020311.PhillipSB343 105.020128.RecertApplic.doc 2.PhotoxofAque.pdf ments re: above. 4/1/2002. .doc 1998 PWS Tanker Plans Review Drill Monitor Contractor Annual 651.105.020401.ADECnontan Letter to Judith Brady regarding Process and related ADEC Report for 2001. 2/13/2002. k.doc ADEC’s Best Available Tech- Conditional Approval and 752.431.020315.DrillMonitor SB 343 Letter to House nology Conference. 3/6/2002. Working Group Processes for .doc Resources Committee urging 600.105.020304.BradyOil&G the Plans. Susan Harvey rec- Port Valdez Monitoring Report. them to consider amending as.doc ognition letter. CC: Gov Tony RCAC. 2/7/2002. 953.431.02 SB343 to include language Letter to Senator John Torgerson Knowles Richard Ranger, 0207.PtVDZMonitor.pdf on conducting a best avail- regarding Best Available Tech- RCAC Full Board. 12/11/ Report on Assessing Transport able technology conference. nologies in the Field of Oil 2001. 651.105.011211.susanh and Exposure Pathways and Attachment included March Spill Technology. 3/1/2002. arvey.doc Potential Petroleum Toxicity 20, 2002 letter form the to Marine Resources in Port Alaska Oil and Gas Associa- Valdez, Alaska. Written by: tion in support of. 3/25/2002. James R.Payne, William B. 600.105.020325.SB343House Driskell, Mace G. Barron and Res.doc Dennis C. Lees. Payne Envi- Valdez Marine Terminal Air ronmental. 12/1/2001. 956.43 Quality Operating Permit 1.011201.ExposurePath.pdf Compliance Letter requesting Report on VMT Fire Team and information on compliance Valdez Fire Department Octo- matters associated with VMT ber 25, 2001 Training Exercise. air quality operating permit. Loss Control Associates. 11/ 3/22/2002. 510.105.020322.A 30/2001. 554.431.011130.firee DECaqCann.doc xercise.doc Best Available Technology confer- 2000-2001 In Review (annual ence ideas. 3/22/2002. 00.10 report of the citizens’ council). 5.020322.ADECBATideas.doc 10/1/2001. Senate Bill 343 Letter to House Oil and Gas Committee urging Letters, Advice them to consider amending and Comment SB343 to include language on Letter to Governor Knowles conducting a best available asking him to support the technology conference. 3/20/ $250,000 in the draft FY03 2002. 600.105.020320.SB343 CIP budget for a best available HouseOG.doc technology (BAT) conference. NO SMOKING — Council board member Pete Kompkoff discusses the dangers Letter to Mr. David Wight 4/12/2002. 600.105.020412.K of tobacco with visitors to the Chenega Bay Health Fair, April 30. Council staffers addressing recent changes nowlesBAT.doc Linda Robinson and Stan Jones attended the fair and later showed videos on the with SERVS Fishing Vessel council’s work to members of the community. Kompkoff represents Chenega Bay Letter regarding PWS RCAC’s program. 3/18/2002. 703.105 on the council. Photo by Stan Jones.

Page 6 The Observer The Observer Page 7 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 May 2002 Out And About Volume 12, No. 2

KODIAK COMFISH: Board member Jim Nestic, right, was interviewed by local radio announcer Jack Bennett, left, during the annual show. Nestic represents the Kodiak Village Mayors Association on the citizens’ council board. With them is Kodiak resident Darlene Turner, who helped set up the interview.

State Senator Loren Leman visited the council booth at ComFish to chat with Executive Director John Devens and board member Jim Nestic.

HOMER is one of the council’s member communities and was the scene of the Kachemak Bay Science Conference in April. The community is located on Kachemak Bay and is famed for the Homer Spit, shown here.

The waters of Kachemak Bay are home to numerous fishing vessels from communities like Homer, Seldovia, Port Graham and Nanwalek.

Photos by Linda Robinson

Page 6 The Observer The Observer Page 7 Volume 12, No. 2 May 2002 Community Corner Election-year ComFish draws politicos Prince William Sound By Linda Robinson the hazardous environment created Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council Community Liaison by spilled oil. The City of Kodiak hosted Forty-four Kodiak vessels The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory its annual ComFish conference participated in Levels One and Council is an independent, non-profit corporation formed after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill to minimize the environmental April 4-6. The citizens’ council Two, which involved three days impacts of the trans-Alaska pipeline terminal and tanker fleet. booth was staffed by Executive in the classroom and two, two-day The council has 18 member organizations, including com- Director John Devens, Mayor Jim classes on water. In Homer and munities affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill and groups Nestic of Old Harbor, Seldovia, Level One representing Alaska Native, aquaculture, environmental, com- mercial fishing, recreation and tourism interests in the spill who represents the and Level Two classes region. Kodiak Village Mayors were held the week of The council is certified under the federal Oil Pollution Act of Assoc. on the council, April 8, with a total 1990 as the citizen advisory group for Prince William Sound, and me. Many fishing of four days on water and operates under a contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service industry people and involving 58 vessels. Co. The contract, which is in effect as long as oil flows through the pipeline, guarantees the council’s independence, local residents attended The goal of SERVS provides annual funding, and ensures the council the same the conference and is to “prevent oil spills access to terminal facilities as state and federal regulatory – as it’s an election by assisting tankers in agencies. year – so did a number safe navigation through of candidates. Visit- Linda Robinson Prince William Sound, ing our booth were Lt. and to protect the envi- Gov. and Senators ronment by providing effective The council’s mission: Citizens promoting Loren Leman and Alan Auster- response services to the Valdez environmentally safe operation of man. Other visitors were former Marine Terminal and Alaska crude the Alyeska terminal and associated tankers. legislator Sam Cotten and Kodiak oil shippers.” Island Borough Mayor Gabrielle LeDoux. Homer meeting examines Board of Directors Jim Nestic and I participated environmental changes President: Steve Lewis - City of Seldovia in a local radio “hotline” during The Kachemak Bay Science Vice-President: Dennis Lodge - City of Seward Secretary: Pete Kompkoff - Community of Chenega Bay which we were able to provide Conference was held in Homer Treasurer: Jane Eisemann - City of Kodiak information about the council and April 12-14. Project Manager put out an appeal for a volunteer Lisa Ka’aihue assisted me in the John Allen - Community of Tatitlek Patience Andersen Faulkner - Cordova Dist. Fishermen United to replace Wayne Coleman, who display booth. Paul McCollum, Louis Beaudry - Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corp. has represented the Kodiak bor- Homer’s representative on the Sheri Buretta - Chugach Alaska Corp. ough on the board since 1990. council also attended the confer- Wayne Coleman - Kodiak Island Borough Tom Copeland - Oil Spill Region Environmental Coalition The third Kodiak seat is held ence. The conference theme was Carol Fraser - Alaska State Chamber of Commerce by the City of Kodiak, which is “Patterns and Significance of Envi- Marilynn Heddell - City of Whittier represented on the council board ronmental Change in Kachemak Blake Johnson - Kenai Peninsula Borough Margy Johnson - City of Cordova by Jane Eisemann. Sara Bruce, Bay and the North Pacific Ocean” Paul McCollum - City of Homer also from Kodiak is a new Oil and included sessions by scientists Jo Ann C. McDowell - City of Valdez Spill Prevention and Response from the University of Washing- Jim Nestic - Kodiak Village Mayors Association Stan Stephens - Alaska Wilderness Recreation &Tourism Association committee member. Both ton, the University of Alaska in Mike Williams - City of Valdez Eisemann and Bruce are school Fairbanks and Juneau, Institute of teachers. Ocean Sciences, Lakehead Univer- Kodiak Island, the main land sity, Coastal and Ocean Resources, mass of an archipelago in the Gulf Inc., Canada, and Oregon State of Alaska, is 100 miles long and University, as well as researchers Staff lies southwest of the Kenai Penin- from NOAA, , South John S. Devens, Executive Director sula. It is the second largest island Carolina and Alaska. A session on in the United States, and hosts the the Native Perspective included Anchorage Marilyn Leland, Deputy Director country’s largest fishing port. It is participants from Port Graham, Gregory Dixon, Financial Manager also home to the largest U.S. Coast Nanwalek, and Seldovia, includ- Joe Banta, Project Manager Guard base. Kodiak, which has ing Scientific Advisory Committee Lisa Ka’aihue, Project Manager Shannon Guthrie, Project Manager been inhabited since 8,000 B.C., member Sabrina Volstad. Linda Robinson, Community Liaison has a population of approximately Stan Jones, Public Information Manager 6,300, including several Council pays a visit to Bernie Cooper, Administrative Assistant Native villages. It relies on fishing Anchorage university Valdez and crabbing as its main industries. Alaska Pacific University Donna Schantz, Program Coordinator The week of ComFish, requested the council display be Jennifer Fleming, Executive Assistant Tamara Byrnes, Administrative Assistant Alyeska’s Ship Escort/Response part of the Earth Day celebra- Dan Gilson, Project Manager Vessel System (SERVS) conducted tion on April 21 at its Anchorage Tom Kuckertz. Project Manager fishing vessel training in Kodiak. campus. The theme this year was Rhonda Arvidson, Project Manager Level One training includes the “Protect Our Home”, and par- Tony Parkin, Project Manager basics of the program and of ticipants included local, state and

SERVS response. Level Two is federal organizations. Sponsored 3709 Spenard Road, Suite 100 339 Hazelet, PO Box 3089 the annual refresher that assists by the Environmental Club, the Anchorage AK 99503 Valdez AK 99686 fishermen to renew their HAZ- activities encouraged family par- Phone: 907-277-7222 Phone: 907-835-5957 Toll-free: 800-478-7221 Toll-free: 877-478-7221 WOPER cards so they can work in ticipation in the celebration. Fax: 907-277-4523 Fax: 907-835-5926 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

For pictures from Kodiak and Homer, Internet: http://www.pwsrcac.org see page 7!

Page 8 The Observer