05/17/1989 Regular MeetingKodiak Emergency Services Council
May 17, 1989
Kodiak, Alaska
EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
RICHARD FORD (COAST GUARD): Flew to north of Shuyak--visibility bad. Didn't
appear to be that much activity. Flew along coast and couldn't see anything.
From Cape Chiniak, Hallo, to Kukak, we saw brown material on beach. No beach
cleanup activity due to visibility. Boats were floating wastes on to Essayons.
On west side of Afognak, we saw sheen with tar balls and also fishing vessels.
Kuprianof has extensive, Raspberry less sheen but a couple of mousse patches
down toward Whale Island. One had otters diving in and out. Couldn't swear it
is mousse. Heard a report that down around Larsen Bay there is mousse one -inch
thick, but position we were given started out four miles into Shelikoff Strait.
JEROME SELBY (KIB MAYOR): Did you find free-floating in Shelikoff.
FORD: No. The only free-floating oil I saw was mousse with free-floating oil
off Afognak. I am interested to hear if anyone was in Larsen Bay.
PARKS: We got reports on bird catching boats and beach cleaning boats today.
SELBY: Talked to governor's office and there is a new resolution on Parks
doing beach assessment.
JACK RICKNER (EXXON): We have an archaeologist on a vessel with the site
cleanup at Chiniak--Rickner. We have been given permission to do cleanup.
SELBY: Can we get him deputized by Shippo.
DISCUSSION ON USING ARCHEOLOGIST AND ON SITES.
JAY BELLINGER (KODIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE): Report from VPSO in Ouzinkie
that one of the village skiff crews had seen stressed sea otters. Sent the Ten
Bears, and they picked up one sick otter which has been flown to Seward. I got
a report of otters and mousse in Raspberry Straits. If there is, Ten Bears
will go there.
SELBY: You do have DEC's blessing on storage area here. We were told a Jim
Nall was coming here. Can you pass a request through for three twin -engine
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helicopters to help Fish & Game and to get folks back and forth across the
Shelikoff.
RICKNER: Sure.
BOB BRODIE (CITY OF KODIAK MAYOR): We talked at length with Bill Dahl and he
expressed concern about working out of drums and is suppose to look at a
bladder.
RICKNER: First I have heard about it.
SELBY: A Rod was assigned. The concern is drums are not safe and bladders
are.
PARKS: The bears would tear right through a bladder, and then you have
problems.
SELBY: What is the safety issue?
PARKS: Filtering fuel and getting water out.
BRODIE: They have sealed drums. Bill seems to think this is a problem and
wants bladders.
RICKNER: I bet he is looking at getting a bladder to re -fuel drums.
SELBY: That is different than he expressed it.
RICKNER: That is a new twist, and I will follow up.
PARKS: We probably wouldn't permit a bladder.
RICKNER: Nall will be coordinator for Homer/Kodiak area.
SELBY: One thing that is still a problem is the issue of typar stuff. We hear
draggers corralling it to be picked up is not working. For the mousse still
in the water, the typar nets are more effective than the draggers. Folks in
Valdez are saying 18" boom is just as effective. Who I have talked to say the
typar nets are effective. Whatever works well is fine. If typar is what works
and boom is a fiasco, let's get typar out there. Boat people operating the
typar nets are the ones to ask.
RICKNER: I will have John call VSPO in villages and ask them for the report.
We will poll the people out there and see how it is working.
SELBY: If the typar is more effective, we need to get more nets regardless of
legal issues.
RICKNER: Navy skimmer has not been pumped out. Supersucker broke. I am ready
to bring it back and use that steam generator. It has been there a week and
only half unloaded.
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BRODIE: Containment has been an issue, and we thought we were okay because of
the 60,000 barge that was coming and got sent elsewhere. Now it is a problem
and the people are getting worried.
SELBY: They have lost oil that had been corralled while waiting for the
dredge. That oil is now probably on the beaches. It's a lot cheaper to get it
in the water than clean up the beaches.
BRODIE: Seems to be a perception that there is no more oil in the water. Bill
Dahl conveyed that to us.
RICKNER: I am sure Valdez is doing their own overflights and not setting down
on the beaches and don't see it there. That is why I called to get Jim out
there so he can see beaches.
BRODIE: Bill referred to problems with sightseers in helicopters and that's
why they won't consider more helicopters.
RICKNER: As far as I know, we are not. I will pass that on.
BRODIE: Our concerns to Bill are the typar, containment vessels, and
helicopters.
RICKNER: Ours are sign -off on cleaned up beaches and refuge.
SELBY: We have settled refuge proposal.
RICKNER: I would like to get a dozer out there and not wait for green light.
SELBY: Do it.
RICKNER: I have asked for three soil site tests to be run. I would like to
move the containment vans that are sitting in a residential zone to there. I
would like to start before we get fence.
SELBY: I think that is getting into DEC. I'don't see any problem with getting
the vans there. We would like to resolve helicopter thing on Friday. Have
Nall talk to agencies so Friday morning we will have a response.
Dennis Kelso, DEC, from the Governor's office and Ernie Pike will be here
Friday.
FORD: The satellite communication is up and running.
SELBY AND BRODIE WILL BE GONE TOMORROW. HERMAN BUEKER AND LINDA FREED WILL
DIRECT 5 O'CLOCK MEETING.
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