12/13/1989 Regular MeetingKodiak Emergency Services Council
December 13, 1989 @ 10:00 a.m.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
JEROME SELBY, Kodiak Island Borough Mayor, said the main purpose of this
meeting is to catch everyone up on what everyone is doing and what they are
finding --coordination type meeting. The main idea is to go over concerns and
identify what is needed to be done now before the April/May time frame. One of
the local concerns is what the impact is on the local fisheries. There has
been talk about focusing an amount of funds on the impact on next summer's
fisheries. He has talked with DEC about the $2,000,000 flow.
RAY MORRIS of DEC said there are thirteen people on staff. DEC- is maintaining
a strong presence here. They are following up on beaches they identified on
impact. There are daily flights to Kitoi to assure there is a hatchery
protection program intact. There is a full-time person coming on staff for
hatchery protection. Another large program that will assist in the spring is a
winter agency monitory program. It is the only program intact that will share
data. It is fully supported by DEC, EXXON, and the Coast Guard and will be an
extensive program. It will zero in on areas that were the heaviest hit. There
has been a dramatic change in the appearance of the beaches --less oil to be
observed and in some areas it is impossible to find. However, in some areas,
you don't have to dig very far to be back into the oil. The heaviest hit areas
are Cape Douglas, Shuyak Island (beach oil buried in sand), Perevaline
Straits, and Big Bay.
GORDON GOULD, City of Kodiak Manager, asked Mr. Morris if he could identify all
areas where he had been successful putting in transects?
MR. MORRIS replied they had selected areas that were moderately hit.
WAYNE COLEMAN, Oil Spill Liaison, said the areas concentrated on are on the
mainland and Shuyak Island, because they can be monitored.
BILL MILLER, National Parks Service in the Kodiak Field Office, extended his
appreciation to DEC for providing space on helicopters to make it back and
forth to mainland. It has made the interagency effort go a lot better. The
long range plan is for the park service to return to the transects on the
mainland and start reading them in April. He passed out a chart of where the
transects are located. NPS's have several concerns that have been generated by
the oil spill: One is the impact with regard to the number of visitors, the
natural resources by harassment of the wildlife, spray painting of rock walls,
etc. NPS is asking for any information to enable them to get on top of it.
Another is the lasting cultural impact on the significant archeological
artifacts. NPS doesn't have adequate staff to patrol the coast.
JAY BELLINGER, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, said they have been doing beach
survey programs. They have been conducting quite a few bird transects. A
series on the west side and a series on the east side have been finished.
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described the condition of the oil --patties hard on top with soft undersides of
a caramel color with a slight smell of crude.
Discussion ensued on the uncovering of oil versus new impacts of oil.
Discussion on the Barren Island's oil and whether that would re -hit Kodiak.
MR. CAYLOR again reiterated reoiling on Shuyak Island. The description he has
says it has been in the water for a long time. He can't discount the
possibility of getting fresh oil again. One of his concerns is the lack of
training on beach assessment. He hopes for a more thorough cooperative
training effort for people in field assessing. This would mean more
consistency.
MR. PEAVEY said they have had a report from the same people. There needs to be
more investigation in the area by counting patties, type of condition, etc.
COMMANDER MADDEN said we need to examine what constitutes reoiling.
Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
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