07/27/1989 Regular MeetingEMERGENCY SERVICES COUNCIL
INTER AGENCY MEETING
EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1989
Meeting started at 5:15 p.m..
DENNIS PRICHARD (DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE) - 150 birds done today and
more to do. More live birds are coming in daily. Boats got 226 new birds
yesterday. Fish and Wildlife don't know why they are getting so many birds
all of a sudden. There was a sick otter brought in from Whale Island. It was
flown to Anchorage and then shipped on to Seward. On July 24, one otter and
one eagle were sent to Seward also. At this time he had no count totals with
him.
JERRY HAMMOND (NATIONAL PARKS) - Things are normal. They've been flying a lot
with the good weather. Two of three protection officers are ready to 'go out.
The Goose is flying the peninsula today doing a fuel inventory. SCAT reports
will hopefully be up to date for the Saturday meeting. Talked to NOAA about
the SCAT check. Took Dawn Black to Cape Douglas the other day. Haven't heard
back from her yet.
JACK RICKNER (EXXON) - Doesn't know if he has all the SCAT reports done
because he has a large back up on his desk.
MIKE GOODWIN (STATE PARKS) - Crews on Shuyak Island have been on the northeast
corner. As of yesterday crews are on beaches but not ready to start
processing as of yet. One of the state parks people flew with DEC. While
flying they saw a brown bear on Dark Island. DEC found some pooled oil in
little pockets on Dark Island. But these are pretty high energy beaches, so
it may take care of itself with the winter weather. State historic office
person flew yesterday too. Oil is still washing ashore in the Shuyak Straight
area. Our crew turned in an otter pup that was found dead. At this point
they are unsure as to why it died. Members of KISCC group are establishing
areas on Shuyak Island. Judy Bitner had expressed some concern about the
seiners coming ashore during rough weather and cleaning beaches. This is okay
with her as long as they follow the KISCC rules. A couple of new Department
of Natural Resources representatives will be coming to town beginning on
Monday. They will be on a two week rotation.
DICK HENSEL (ADF&G) - We have pretty good coverage on the beach surveys. Now
they are going to check the boom on the salmon streams. Will do this
tomorrow. Exxon called for a member to go to Shuyak today.
LARRY NICHOLSON (ADF&G) - Been in Chignik for the last couple of days. If we
expanded clean up efforts maybe we could conduct some outside fisheries. It
may be worth the attempt to clean up with more crews. Areas being considered
are in the vicinity of Perryville and Chignik Bay Proper. We would do this in
hopes that maybe we could hold some fisheries there in the near future. Test
vessels haven't seen a lot of oil. There was one problem that occurred last
night, possibly a form of sabotage by a fisherman, there was quite a bit of
diesel oil at the mouth of the lagoon. The oil was tested and did come from a
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boat. This lagoon will reopen anyway at ten tomorrow. There was a letter
sent to Wayne concerning a slow wind down on test vessels, we should be
buttoning those up by the first of September. Tugidak Island appeared to be
hit extremely light in NOAA's estimation. We need to sit down and discuss the
impact to Tagidik Island before dropping it from the list. We will do this at
the meeting Friday and 9:00 a.m. in the Fish and Game library.
JEROME SELBY (BOROUGH MAYOR) - Monday and Thursday will be the only 5:00 p.m.
meetings. There will be no Wednesday meetings at 5:00 p.m. any more.
RICKNER - I have not received the report as to weather our team has started
the warm water wash at Shuyak. The supervisor flew to Shuyak. Jack finished
his timeline and has no copy with him at this time. He will distribute a copy
after it is checked by his authorities. He has a back log of work orders and
inspections. Due to this they have hired a new employee to help out with
these items. With this new help hopefully they will know more about when
things will be done and when they should move, ect.... Some workers were said
to be not working efficiently, the supervisor has been replaced. If there is
a problem in the future they would appreciate being told but not in an attack
manner. They have informed their pilots to be careful of the bears and not to
get too cl.as..
SELBY - What's going on in Chignik?
WAYNE WITH EXXON - We have already decided they are going to expand the
Chignik clean up crews.
SELBY - Jack, were you able to run down anything on the large tar ball, or
mousse?
WAYNE WITH EXXON - We have sent a road crew and seiner fleet out to the area.
COMMANDER MCGUIRRE (COAST GUARD) - In response to trying to get the inspection
effort moving we have created two teams. One team is a remedial team and the
other is a current activities team. This will enable the Coast Guard to
schedule an inspection team to go out more quickly. It will also enable them
to monitor and verify the clean up. DEC will be in on all inspections. Sign
off of the areas is the Coast Guards responsibility. There will be a member
from the Coast Guard, DEC, and a land manager on all teams. If there's room
in the aircraft and your person is there they can also go along. They are
looking for one person to be the land manager by using SCC. This will be
worked out in more detail at the meeting on Saturday.
BRODIE - Someone called who had a dead otter out at Chiniak and is going to
bring it in.
SELBY - Committee needs to look at this on Saturday because he has a hard time
seeing this new Coast Guard plan taking less than 4 people. One of those
people being a member of ADF&G.
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