08/31/1989 Regular MeetingKodiak Emergency Services Council
August 31, 1989
Kodiak, Alaska
EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
JOHN HOPKINS (DEC): Permit problems with incinerator. Another 10 days. Will
be a hearing on some of the concerns with Borough and rules and regulations
missed in permitting process. Still out doing interesting work. Sending
people out with the Coast Guard. Survey work going on. Going out with Coast
Guard working the beaches for potential demobilization. We have a question on
data: In the discussion on Tugidak, way back --June, some body sent a letter.
We would like more insight as to statement that both Exxon and Coast Guard made
that they were not allowed to go to Tugidak to clean up at time. they were
ready.
JACK RICKNER (EXXON): Letter from ADF&G saying no one would go on Tugidak. It
was a notice that came out saying so.
HOPKINS: We were wondering if difference in interpretation.
RICKNER: We had spent a pile of money getting tied together, and they said no.
DISCUSSION on letter. Copies will be found.
HOPKINS: I was down there yesterday, and I didn't find one spot of oil.
COMMANDER DENNIS MAGUIRE (USCG): Some one went there --oil gone, bags gone.
HOPKINS: Question we have is: I understand the population of Emperor
Geese --depleted species --the Island has a State critical habitat --is enough of
issue that documentation needs to be clear.
JEROME SELBY (KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH MAYOR): If a bunch of Emperor Geese are
oiled and die this winter, I will make issue.
SELBY to RICKNER: If you will give us emphasis on winter plan...
DISCUSSION on oil and oil not being there now but in the future.
RICKNER: My concern is to clean the oil up. We have a different
demobilization addressing issues going past that. Valdez is addressing issues
past that.
KEN MIDDLETON (ADF&G): Damage assessment plan has a station planned for
Tugidak for winter monitoring.
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SELBY TO RICKNER: While you have been gone, we asked for Kodiak Island
District specific subplan of winter plan. Originally told we would have them
Monday night and did not. Some place is a plan for the Kodiak sector. In
terms of winter plan, let's speak to Tugidak. In that plan is a quick response
capability to get oil off critical beaches during winter.
HOPKINS: Our concern is that it needs to be taken care of seriously.
Fundamentally, we are in process of checking through and getting data together.
We keep sending Coast Guard data. Still looking for oil and logging it.
Unconfirmed reports of oil in Shuyak recently, and new reports of oil on
northern Afognak, and new material in Alinchak mixed in with high tide. We are
still seeing new oil come in at various places.
MAGUIRE: Chief Point and Spiradon still being worked.
MIDDLETON to HOPKINS: Status of map.
HOPKINS: We are working with Exxon, SCAT, and DNR data base. We have been
told not to digitize maps because of a better system. We asked for it and are
still waiting for it.
SELBY: We still have one generated here.
MIDDLETON: Yes, linear map.
HOPKINS: This one is suppose to be much better and one we get from Exxon is
suppose to be much larger.
WAYNE COLEMAN (CITY OF KODIAK) to HOPKINS: Another hearing in ten days?
HOPKINS: Ten days for hearing period.
SELBY: Comments are due September 10th on coastal management requirements on
the incinerator. Vikoda specifically, with seven reviewed at public hearing.
JERRY HAMMOND (NATIONAL PARKS): Who came up with seven areas to be considered?
SELBY: DEC permitting branch. My understanding is they took all bases they
had heard discussed. We have asked for public hearing. I will have it
tomorrow or Saturday. Five on Afognak and two on Kodiak.
HOPKINS: Somebody in Juneau is thinking it might be better to look back at
park service because coastal management survey isn't needed.
SELBY: They did not get into the information system the annexation of that
strip to us this year. It would still have to be given a coastal management
review. That was the problem; they did not request a coastal management
review. That is the point why permit voided --improperly issued.
JAY BELLINGER (KODIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE): I would like copy as soon as
possible because they are on Alaska coastal tidelands. We will have to meet
legal mandates on environmental assessment.
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SELBY: Sure. I would assume that Exxon Valdez would follow through tomorrow
and get on file those seven so your guys can start looking. Pretty sure
hearing is Wednesday evening at 7:30. By tomorrow morning, we should be locked
in.
BELLINGER: Main thing I see is getting fresh carcasses to labs from all those
different areas. I would like to know what is going on out there. September
15th is coming at us fast.
MAGUIRE: I have asked inspection team to treat fresh carcasses as evidence.
BELLINGER: I have a real concern, in the couple of weeks left, to get stuff in
lab and find out what is going on.
RAY VOLEY (KODIAK DAILY MIRROR STAFF): Confirmation of 700 in Chignik?
HAMMOND: They don't count them until they are logged in, not what may be
setting on boats.
BELLINGER: Main one is to get fresh ones in to analyze. Will do cause of
death and fingerprinting. As soon 'as possible, can we get information on
incinerator. We would appreciate it.
SELBY: I will try to have it at 10:00 tomorrow so everyone will know.
HAMMOND: We are trying to document our concerns on areas that have been
cleaned or treated and those we think should be. We have put together a memo
and will give you each a copy. (Passed out memo.) This is our latest update
and if the Coast Guard or Exxon takes issue, let us set down and talk about it.
That is our approach as we see it the last day of August. Another topic is
research plots that are progressing nicely along Kodiak and Katmai coast. This
last couple of days, I have had contact with three people representing the
University of Alaska interest, and these were the same people in earlier phase
one. I have in my hands, maps of four of the plots they are going to document
and work this winter. These are the people that put out the orange paint. I
think all cleanup crews we are working with are in safe harbor. I hope they
get better weather.
MIDDLETON: Our energies are devoted to assessing main salmon streams --19 on
mainland and 30 plus on three islands. We are basically looking at streams we
know and think have been impacted to assess, to document, and to establish what
was oiled and to what degree.
BELLINGER to MIDDLETON: Helicopters landing on uplands need permitting. (They
will get together later.)
HAMMOND told about reviewing helicopter permits and fuel caches. Four caches
are to be combined into two.
HOPKINS expressed DEC's interest in Akhiok.
DISCUSSION on fuel caches.
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SELBY to GROUP: How are you doing on winter plans?
MIDDLETON: We completed one, and it's in for typing. Generalized outline.
HOPKINS: Valdez is working on ours, and we are talking to them on a daily
basis. There are concerns about getting out in the winter. We are looking at
Native community network and want to tie them in as much as possible.
SELBY: We will be meeting with the villages Tuesday or Wednesday morning with
the idea of what they are looking at for winter plans. We would like
coordination of everyone for what is happening on the Island.
RICKNER: Vessels in at safe harbor. Seiner fleet down to twenty and will be
staying on until the middle of September. Our records indicate Type A
treatment is well over 95% complete. Demobilization is around 60%. We still
have a way to go, and the Coast Guard is putting effort into looking at that.
Landowners are involved through the Coast Guard. Looked at three sites this
morning, and I would request when you do provide us with information on where
you feel like we missed, a map is very important --and marked on it. As far as
I know on incinerator, we are still working on repairing it. Permitting issue
being handled by Valdez.
SELLERS: How long will warm water washing crew be in Shuyak?
RICKNER: May be there three days.
SELLERS: I was really impressed while watching the warm water wash.
MAGUIRE: Concentrating in Cape Kennedy, Shuyak area, and northwest portion of
Afognak. I am leaving Saturday or Sunday. Jim Madden is relieving me. Phil
Smith will be in Valdez. Gary Perry will be Madden's assistant. We are
maintaining manpower at high level. Flexible response tied to Exxon
demobilization. If Exxon cuts back on teams, we cut on field people.
DISCUSSION on who would be here for winter plan.
HAMMOND: If Coast Guard, Exxon, and NOAA not looking at oil, are we suppose to
be looking for oil? Should I be advising our people in Anchorage to put some
of our efforts into looking for oil?
SELBY: That's what I am trying to get Exxon to say. Plan was that Exxon would
do monitoring through winter and report. Until we see it in writing and get a
commitment, I can't answer that. That is why I asked Jack for Kodiak specific
Exxon plan. Subsistence fish resolved today. There will be a subsistence
catch in Olga and inside Karluk Lagoon. Exxon is contracting with companies to
process --fresh frozen and can. Will be distributed to villages and some to
Kodiak. Larry Nicholson (ADF&G) said that within three days there will be a
fishery of 49,000 fish in Olga Bay/Karluk Lagoon. Beach bag crew out.
SELLERS: I was there. Twenty bags in surf. Finding some good places.
MAGUIRE: Admiral Robbins will be here tomorrow or the third.
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