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1989-06-11 Regular MeetingKodiak Emergency Services Council June 11, 1989 @ 9:00 a.m. Kodiak, Alaska EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL LT. HANJWICH (USCG): Did receive report of new oil in Tugidik Island. Making arrangements for Admiral and agency representatives to go down. It is a large amount -six miles by 60 yards wide. Village cleanup continues. Heavy oil at Chief Point in Spiradon Bay. No cleanup at Cape Chiniak. Exxon crew Team 7 due to arrive sometime late today to augment forces in Larsen Bay in. areas we observed yesterday heavily impacted. Mark 5 skimmer in Ishuit Bay continues to pick up oil. Lt. Madden is making arrangements to bring back another skimmer. The one there is picking up 5 loads a day --37 to 40 barrels. Three monitoring vessels out checking setnet sites. Right now, we are working to refine getting information about setnet sites. Some of setnet sites are working to clean up areas; some haven't begun. ARNIE SHRYOCK (DEC): Yesterday proved general wisdom of Interagency Shoreline suggestions that real effort be concentrated on lots of low impact teams. A lot of miles in this sector and certainly will impact the fisheries. These decision haven't been made but frighteningly possible. Were exceptions, but we saw small heavily oiled areas at Chief Point. We have identified two heavily oiled beaches at the base of Shuyak. Probably a good representation of what you will see --a little bit on a lot of area. The villages are very concerned about safety of fish. If they think that, what are people thinking 3,000 miles away. We do have to deal with the perception starting at the local level. I would like to make a point --most of the tour saw about a 80 yard stretch of snares in Hallo Bay. These were just filled with oil. They work very well. The number seems short, need more. It is a shame they aren't all along Hallo Bay because they work well. If we find techniques that work, I would like to see these speedily adopted and not resisted in their deployment at local level. GARY OTT (NOAA): I have been asked to do housekeeping by Interagency Committee. We had to somehow document and set up data base. An attempt has been made to set one up that is available to everybody. It is on Exxon's system. The data system shows us we have about 2,900 miles of beach in this scene. Our spreadsheet shows 2,700+ miles of this to Wide Bay. Hopefully we will be able to track beach sub -units that way. As you collect data, we would like to try and think through how we can capture your data. It is temporary. We would like to talk to the SCAT team. I defer the oil impact to DEC's data system. DEC REP from VALDEZ: I am hopeful to bring system down here and Kodiak will be able to do the same thing Valdez does. Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 1' 0407n DISCUSSION ENSUED REGARDING THE SYSTEM IN VALDEZ BEING ABLE TO HAVE A BOOKKEEPING METHOD TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH BEACH IS OILED AND THAT IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE EXXON GETTING THE CLEANUP DONE THIS SUMMER AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT. IT IS NOT USEFUL IN DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT TAKES TO CLEAN A BEACH. MILES ALONE ARE NOT A GOOD MEASURE OF PROGRESS. IT IS A WORK UNIT WITHOUT MEASUREMENT. IT PROVIDES A CHECK FOR HOW PROGRESS IS GOING. IF YOU DON'T KNOW TOTAL JOB, YOU DON'T HAVE A WAY OF MEASURING IT. BY ENTERING KODIAK AND VALDEZ, IT WILL GIVE AN ACCURATE PICTURE. JERRY HAMMOND (NATIONAL PARKS): Would like to express Gil Blinn's appreciation of all the cooperation here. We appreciate entire team's effort of coming over to the Peninsula yesterday. TONY SCHETZSLE (NATIONAL PARKS): I was disappointed to find out cleanup work did not occur yesterday. It seems a shame to have them there and not able to get them on shore and working. BILL RANEY (EXXON): We rely on local fishermen on the weather. We don't want any people killed. You have to be able to provide safety to the people in getting them back and forth. It's a tough call. Maybe we are conservative on the safety side. We make the judgement but rely on the local people. Any ideas would be appreciated. We aren't as familiar with this area. BOB BRODIE (CITY OF KODIAK MAYOR): Are there any landing craft that are larger? ADMIRAL ROBBINS (USCG): That particular beach is difficult because it is so shallow. It seems there are a large number of those beaches here. It's frustrating. I suggested a helicopter, but you can't bring them in with no aircraft platform, and you would also have a problem bringing debris out. RANEY: I think maybe a Zodiak, but they are less protected in terms of high seas. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: There are some larger ones that are more maneuverable. We are going to have to do something. LARRY NICHOLSON (DEPT. OF FISH & GAME): We have a strong opinion throughout Kodiak area. Rather than manage area, it should be closed. Our opinion is to implement any we think we can implement safely. Will have in place a strong presence in the fisheries. As we do have an opening on the 16th, it will be a reduced area. Most areas now are to the point where we couldn't hold a fishery. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: The floating oil problem? NICHOLSON: That's it, but we have re -floating, sheens, and oil that has been deposited and reaches down into substrate. Our ability to identify the different types of sheen is a problem (bilge sheen, natural sheen, and Exxon sheen). We will take conservative approach. If we see a sheen, we will close. WAYNE DOLEZAL (FISH & GAME): The test fishing of mousse has detected mousse in Ugak Bay starting back up sites four or five days ago. For the next two or Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 2 04071 three days, Fish & Game will do long flying hours hitting areas that are potential openers for the 16th. Test fishing boats on west side north of Wide Pay said they had problems with floating mousse. BRODIE: Are we still booming mousse and scooping it up? JACK RICKNER (EXXON): We had a report that the Natives in Larsen Bay were out still collecting it in five gallon buckets. HANOWICH: That is why we are trying to get another skimmer to collect it instead of using buckets. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: This is the first time we have had reports of more mousse. DEC from VALDEZ: There were impacts reported in Seward and Prince William Sound during the past week with the storms. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: We got a good feel for the problems which show that we need to get assessments done so we know what problems are and how big. SHRYOCK: One of the difficulties there is they change so rapidly. ' It's a moving target. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: And will as long as we have mousse floating out there. We have to capture mousse before it floats again. RICKNER: Did talk to Valdez about getting two crews of six men each out on road system. I have asked oil spill consultant with crews to see they are doing type of job we want done. It's my understanding we do have snares available, and we are still making them. All folks have to do is ask. If we don't have enough on hand, we will see about getting more. SHRYOCK: I was pointing out it was a neglected opportunity at best and how we hope we don't neglect an opportunity in the future. RICKNER: We are moving to get a contact to the villages to act as a local -point contact so we will have people on hand to get with them so villagers will feel they have someone there they can yell at. We have one at Larsen Bay and are trying for Ouzinkie and Old Harbor. We appreciate the Coast Guard's effort in getting skimmer back in use. We did have a flight going out yesterday to look at oiling on east side and someone going out this afternoon to monitor and try to figure out where it is coming from. JEROME SELBY (KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH MAYOR): What was account of John Harrington with pre -season agreement? JOHN PEAVEY (EXXON): That hasn't happened --an audience with negotiating team of Exxon that can make a decision at local level. They want a pre -season guarantee. We have communicated this to Valdez. On Tuesday, there will be a contingent of people meeting with a committee from the fishing community to discuss concerns. We are trying to make arrangements to address those items in a different form because we don't feel it will happen at that one. Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 3' 040,112 BRODIE: What is being done in other fishing communities? PEAVEY: I don't know answer to that question. RANEY: Discussion I heard is a small area in Prince William Sound for setnetters is closed. As far as stages of negotiations, I think they are at about the same stage. PRINCE WILLIAM FISHING SEASON DISCUSSED. NICHOLSON: Quite a difference in geography of areas so not a direct correlation to decisions. SELBY: Did you get an answer on the geotextile? RICKNER: There is some geotextile on hand here. I am working on seeing if there is other places. SELBY: The stuff here will be gone by Tuesday. SUGGESTION BY BRODIE TO CONTACT MR. LAGRANGE (EXXON) IN VALDEZ TO -COME TO KODIAK AND GET FIRST-HAND VIEW OF KODIAK. DISCUSSION OF FISHING CO-OP SO FISHING CAN BE DONE IN A CLEAN METHOD. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: Are you saying you feel that Exxon is not providing enough representation on fishing issue, and that it's not being accomplished adequately? WAYNE PURDOM (EXXON): It's opinion of local fishermen that they are not getting enough Exxon reps that can deal directly with them. They are encouraging us to bring a contingency here that can talk about problem and make an agreement on site. SELBY: If Mr. LaGrange has never been to Kodiak... BRODIE: The local representatives are working hard but job is hard when there is a lag time between things coming back and forth. NICHOLSON: From task force was availability of vessels to deal with contaminated fish. There are a few vessels to be earmarked to be used but paper work, logistics of equipment, etc. haven't been resolved and the season is six days away. This is not something just brought to Exxon's attention; it's been going on. Any encouragement municipalities can give them is encouraged. DISCUSSION OF EPA'S INVOLVEMENT. THEY WILL BE USING GENERAL PERMITS ON GRINDING AND DUMPING AND WILL HAVE TO WORK THREE MILES OFF SHORE WITH CONTAMINATED FISH. SHRYOCK: We do have one concern regarding the dumping of fish that may have been oiled slightly. The perception of what is slightly oiled would be an EPA question. Perception is critical in seafood market and this area. Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 4 ADMIRAL ROBBINS: Somewhere it's a decision that has to be made. We can't hold up the whole thing because someone can't make a decision. If needed, I will make it. Do I need to talk to someone to make something happen? SELBY: Yes. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: It would be nice to have a write-up on it rather than word of mouth. It's easier for me to attack it. SHRYOCK: I will and will get some assistance from Food & Drug. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: Let's get this resolved within the next few days. NICHOLSON: Another point is securing backup gear. We have been told by Exxon that all backup gear will be in Anchorage. PURDOM: Someone in Valdez was circumventing decision that they be sent to Kodiak. I have talked to our management about that decision and told them it needed to be on site. We are in process of turning that decision around. I am aware of 20 Kodiak -style nets. BRODIE DISCUSSED VALDEZ INTERFERENCE WITH KODIAK EXXON. PURDOM: We are making commitment Exxon is Exxon whether it be Valdez or Kodiak. PURDOM: There are twelve Kodiak cape seines with lead lines, three without lead lines, and five beach seines coming to Kodiak. BRODIE: How about gill nets? PURDOM: We have material coming for those. SELBY: Is there anyone who thinks ten beach crews will be enough? RANEY: Yes. I am not telling you ten will be enough but until I get better information, I think it will. Our current limiting factor is waste disposal. You have currently the largest cleanup force in the Gulf of Alaska. We have to figure out logistics of waste disposal of teams now and berthing needs have to be resolved. SHRYOCK: I know berthing vessels on your list not employed and have not been called. RANEY: The current limitation is waste disposal and berthing could be a problem. I have learned I can't make everyone happy, and I can make decisions on what we will and can do. We intend to clean up spill this summer, and there are no arbitrary limits. You have to put things in perspective of what we are doing. There are things that need to be done as you gather forces. I don't want to hold back and have no reason to, but there are a number of things that need to be worked out. We will continue to sort through to do whatever is necessary. Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 5 0407,1 SELBY: I am encourage to hear you say that. All I want you to do is keep heading teams and get it done. If you can have it all cleaned up by August 15th, we will be happy. Will have to get adequate number of people there in terms of impact. DISCUSSION ON NUMBER OF TEAMS, NUMBER OF WORKERS ON TEAMS, PROTECTION FOR WORKERS, LOGISTICS, ETC. SHRYOCK: I know Exxon wants to distance themselves from geotextile. We are having a difficult time handling logistics from our resources for deploying. I am requesting a Exxon boat to provide this. We can put one of our people on the boat. If you could make one available to us over the next two or three days, we will appreciate it. RICKNER: You come by, and we will work with boat people and find one suitable. RANEY: In most of areas we visited, I feel that Type A cleanup is the proper method. The small heavy oiling at Chief Point is an area I though small hot water heaters may be of use. It's a method quite compatible with Type A cleanup. Fowl Bay had mousse that had sunk to cobbles. In terms of hot water, I don't think hot water would be effective. It looks like what we leave there for Mother Nature might work. We have also talked about having those areas be scrapped off with front-end loader and pushed into tidal zone for tidal action. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: I would like to try some snares on those beaches for any coming loose. We have to stop re -oiling. It should be high on the priority list to get snares out there. RANEY: It would be efficient to get ATVs in to move trash bags of collected wastes. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: That is a good point but needs to be controlled. The key is we need to lower frustration of getting work done. One way to do that would be to get small groups with some mechanisms. The highest priority is to get on beaches, get it picked up and into bags. Bags can be set on beaches above high tide line. We don't want to lose time with people saying they can't get it picked up because the bags aren't picked up. Pick it up as quickly as possible. We don't want debris bags to hold up operations. I would strongly recommend avoiding re -oiling. The more you can get out on beaches picking up, the less our problem will be in the future. DISCUSSION OF INCINERATORS BETWEEN SHRYOCK AND RANEY. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: If I were to boil it down in terms of what I saw, the problem is that we have to assess how much it has been hit and how big is the job. We are still a long way from having all the beaches assessed as to how much the hit is and what work is to be done. There is still plenty of work. Exxon has said they would increase size of crews and will continue to as long as needed, and I expect them to follow up on it. One of the high priorities is to stop re -oiling. That is, to capture what is on beaches so it doesn't go elsewhere. The salmon fishery is in jeopardy, and I understand that. The last thing we want is a poor quality fish to hit the market. The decision will be made in the next few days as to fishery. I understand that fish that has been caught Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 6 04075 is not contaminated. I am going this afternoon to look at newly oiled beaches. I will be leaving about 5 to go to Seward. I promiseyou I will keep a close watch and will be back to Kodiak. BRODIE to ADMIRAL: I would like to thank you for coming and all the time you have spent here. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: I would like to thank Bill Raney for coming down with me. My feelings about Kodiak are healthy. I think everyone is working hard, and I understand your frustrations. RANEY: I will pass all the information on when I get back. ADMIRAL ROBBINS: This is the only area where I see the attention of two mayors and that is very important. Kodiak Emergency Services Council - June 11, 1989 Page 7- 04076