Presentations regarding the change in Aleska Pipelien Service Company’s marine services contract are on the agenda when the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council meets at the Valdez Civic Center May 4-5.
The contract changeover from Crowley Marine Services to Edison Chouest Offshore, is set to take place on July 1, 2018. The services include key oil spill prevention and response assets including escort tugs, oil recovery barges and associated personnel for service in Prince William Sound.
Among those slated to present at the meeting are Alyeska, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard and the advisory council.
Also on the agenda are a number of other items, including consideration of a board resolution in support of reauthorization of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund excise tax, increased use of the fund for spill prevention measures and establishment of a fund balance ceiling and floor which automatically suspends and reinstates the excise tax to improve the long term sustainability of the fund. The fund is currently due to sunset at the end of this year.
The Council will also hear a summary of the Oil Spill Surrogates Project efforts to find a safe stand-in for oil, such as wood chips, that may be used to help responders practice during oil spill response drills.
The meeting is open to the public, except for executive sessions.
In conjunction with the board meeting, the council and Alaska Tanker Co. will cosponsor a public reception on My 3 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Valdez Civil Center. The public is welcome to attend.
