06/06/1989 Regular MeetingKodiak Emergency Response Team
June 6, 1989 @ 5:00 p.m.
Kodiak, Alaska
EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
BOB BRODIE (CITY OF KODIAK MAYOR): Planning Thursday meeting of mayors and
Exxon on the agreement. We rewrote State's document by changing the names
between States and Municipalities. If all else fails, we go after State's
money --the 35 million authorized for the spill. We wrote letters to the
government pumping local offices and criticizing State offices. We feel there
should be more authority to ones on the scene.
WAYNE DOLEZAL (FISH & GAME): Met with NOAA on shoreline resource committee.
Drafted a letter for reminder of clean up operations, and another one spelling
out standard revised numbering system on how to identify shorelines. Exxon has
been providing helicopter daily. A lot of meetings to finalize oiled fisheries
testing. Exxon is providing seven vessels, and we will provide one person on
board each vessel.
BRODIE: Has DEC come up with thirteen new people?
DOLEZAL: I haven't heard.
BRODIE: Was the memo of agreement signed with task force fishermen?
DOLEZAL: As of now it has not been signed. Meetings are being held on it.
The recent draft is pretty much the final draft.
GARY BURKE (FISH & WILDLIFE): We seem to be clearing house for anything
dead --birds, fish, clams, etc. We are glad to help out. People like to know
what happens after they send something in, and we try to get back to them when
we know. August Aga in Larsen Bay seems to call every day on something dying
there. Eagle team has caught three eagles. One young immature was oiled, they
dried it out, and released it. One similar at Karluk yesterday. Also, caught
an immature at Karluk that had oil, and it has been sent to Seward. Three more
birds at Karluk they are trying to catch. They are going to Cape Chiniak to be
taken into where a bird has been seen for two days now. They use a catch net
that is triggered with a spring that pops up on the bird.
DISCUSSION ON USING VIDEOS TO RECORD WHAT IS HAPPENING.
GIL BLINN (PARKS): Cleanup crew is back at Chiniak. Will continue working
there. Recovery crew along Chiniak collected 19 dead birds. Just outside is
an oil slick 3.9 miles long with mousse droppings three to four inches in
diameter. The Columbia pulled in a dead sea lion that was heavily oiled. Oil
at Cape Gull has been reported to be 50/50 mousse oil with patties two to three
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inches thick. At Shaw Island north of Cape Douglas, very little show of oil.
Biological technicians will come to work on June 19.
BILL BURKE (USCG) introduced STEVE HANOWICH of the Coast Guard.
B. BURKE: Filling in for Balch who is out flying with Jim Wade at Cape
Chiniak. They aren't back yet. They were going to view some of the harder hit
areas. The cleanup crews active today. We met with John Harrington's
replacement this morning. John's replacement's name if also John (Peeve [?]).
The Coast Guard verbally passed on to Exxon our dissatisfaction with vessel
operations. From sounds of it, they had already recognized it. Logistical
movement of vessels and keeping track of them. We impressed we would like to
see a clear focus on Katmai Pennisula and regroup Kodiak teams to move to Puale
Bay area and augment crew at Shuyak. I got word on lower prices being offered
to charters was resolved and satisfactory to new boats. I did hear it was only
good for a three-week period. The repeater stations should be finalized
tomorrow. They systems are in place but don't have telephone and command
centers.
BRODIE: The vessel contracts will be a continuing source of irritation to us.
You have everyone somewhat satisfied now. We got a call regarding the area
plan we sent to Admiral (Robbins), and we got word he is coming here to discuss
it.
B. BURKE: The word I got is it is under review, and they had no idea when we
can expect word when it will be approved or disapproved. Admiral Robbins is
expressing his concerns on Homer/Seward concerns. The word was the Admiral is
planning a tentative trip to Kodiak next week. This is the Exxon plan I am
talking about.
DOLEZAL: What about the Kodiak shoreline cleanup plan that was sent up?
Commander Ford left us with the understanding it would be signed off by the
Admiral and become a supplement. -
B. BURKE: I will track it down.
BLINN gave him a copy of the plan.
B. BURKE: I can assure you this is the document we are working from.
BRODIE: How have you been getting along with DEC?
B. BURKE: Much better. We see a smoother relationship with the setting up of
a more organized beach review. They will go in and do a preliminary and if
there is significant disagreement, the overall response committee will follow.
DISCUSSION ON DEC BEACH REVIEW AFTER CLEANUP.
DOLEZAL: NMFS sent whale attack team on the whale in Karluk.
BRODIE: Is lab set up in Valdez?
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GARY OTT (NOAH): I haven't heard. It should be.
BRODIE: Anything back on white stuff?
OTT: I haven't heard.
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