09/06/1989 Regular MeetingExxon Oil Spill Meeting of
Sept. 6, 1989
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE -Bob Bonner
ADM1MTMTNE OFFICES
POST OFFICE DOA 1397, KODIAK. ALASKA 99615
TELEPHONE (907) 486-3224
FAA (907) 486-4009
There is a strong low well SW of us and a nice highpressure
center West of the Queen Charlotte Islands. A Southerly.flow of
warm weather is coming into this area. The low will change our
weather considerably and winds will change from SW to SE along
with precipitation.
ADEC-Arnie Shryock
The incinerator is being monitored by ADEC personnel. A public
hearing will be held this evening.
The Geo -textile project over this past week was a partial
success. The technique to be truly effective should be used in
areas of large concentrations of mousse, certain tidal and beach
factors and with very little waste. The cleanup effort is
virtually stopped. There are some areas that should have had
more cleanup work and there are some areas that were cleaned
satisfactorily.
DEC will have a winter monitoring program £orthe entire area.
A good question and answer session ensued and some genuine
concerns were expressed by members of the public.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -Jerry Hammond
The Nat'l. Park Service is in the process of demobilizing part
of their operation. They will retain 5 of their Ranger
Protection Officers.
Two of the five research vessels are supporting the biological
technicians.
NPS will continue assessing cleanup conditions and supporting
Fish and Wildlife Service in recovery of dead or distressed
wildlife. They will maintain a presence throughout the winter.
OUZINKIE-Mayor Zack Chichenoff
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Tarballs and mousse are still showing up on the beaches and the
Mayor does not ' lieve it is right to stc the cleanup. The
people in thesf- areas are quite capablt of taking care of
themselves and could accomplish cleanup work throughout the
winter. They do not feel they have adequate support at the
State and Federal levels.
PORT LIONS -Acting Mayor Pete Squartsoff
Considerable concerns were expressed about the incinerator and
he does not want it operating on Kodiak Island.
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE -Jay Bellinger
They are busy with beach inspections as cleanup monitors are
being released as operations wind down. They are still logging
in dead or distressed birds but this will cease as catcher boats
are discontinued. A few dead sea otters are still being found.
The total cumulative dead bird count is 20,335 todate. A total
of 24 live sea otters have been brought in and 179 total dead
sea otters were logged in. A report was also given of 19 live
stressed eagles, 56 dead bald eagles and 4 other dead raptors.
LARSEN BAY -Charles Christensen
Mr. Christensen questioned why everybody is looking at Kodiak
Island for incinerator operations. He recommended Exxon take
the material and the incinerator back to the,. ereE where the oil
came from. He finds it difficult to understand why Exxon is
shutting down the cleanup operations when the work is far from
complete and that the people of Larsen Bay are fisherman and
could safely work throughout the winter on cleanup work.
ADF&G-Larry Nicholson
To date a report was given on escapements at the various
fisheries. There has been no subsistence fishing in the
Olga/Moser Bay area. The other subsistence fishery at Karluk
did commence with about 30,000 fish taken. A very light sheen
was reported at Karluk and DEC is sending a representative there
to evaluate conditions. They have a clam research project
planned for this winter including some areas around Kodiak.
They will also be doing other studies and research work on
various species throughout the winter.
OLD HARBOR -Mayor Sven Haakenson
Reinforced the comments provided by the preceding village
representatives and his concerns about Exxons refusal to allow
cleanup operations to continue throughout the winter. Mr.
Haakenson also addressed the social problems facing the village
people this winter.
AKHIOK-David Eluska, tribal council pres.
Expressed the needs for a winter cleanup program. Concerns
about the migratory waterfoul were also raised. Akhiok supports
Port Lions in their effort to get the incinerator moved out of
their area. The social aspects of the villagers and the
problems they face this winter as a result of the oil spill were
also stressed.
Kis 16 9 Z2
BOROUGH -Mayor Jer me Selby
He was advised yesterday that Exxon, contrary to previous
information, wanted to continue their efforts to use the
incinerator in Viekoda Bay ------therefore the public hearing on
the issue will STILL be held in the auditorium tonight, Wed.
Sept. 6, at 7:00 p.m. regarding the incinerator.
Comments were also made about plans for winter cleanup programs
and meetings are being held with village leaders to iron out
details.
U.S.C.G.-L. Cmdr. Jim Madden
Only two monitors are now in the field and they are at the
incinerator site.
Three additional monitors are leaving today to attend to areas
that the multi -agency council has stressed for additional
cleanup work.
Multi -agency monitoring will continue through the winter and
efforts are being made to prevent duplication and thereby
maximize monitoring and surveying efforts.
There are no plans for bio -remediation for the Kodiak area with
the exception of the Barren Islands which is not being
administered out of Kodiak.
Much of the waste material has left the area but a large amount
still remains here at Kodiak and locations around the Island.
The next public meeting will be Wednesday,Sept. 13, at 10:00
a.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers.
This concludes today's oil spill meeting report.
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