FY2020-19 Safeguarding Alaska's Oil Spill Prevention and Response Standards1
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Introduced by: Borough Assembly
Drafted by: Borough Clerk
Introduced on: 02/06/2020
Adopted on: 02/06/2020
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2020-19
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
SAFEGUARDING ALASKA'S OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE STANDARDS
WHEREAS, after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Alaska citizens and the Alaska Legislature
worked together to protect the state from major oil spills by enacting comprehensive laws and
regulations dealing with prevention, response, contingency planning, financial responsibility,
oversight, monitoring, and other subjects related to the safe handling and transportation of oil and
other hazardous substances; and
WHEREAS, these laws and regulations were based on real world experiences and the painful
lessons of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and were crafted in coordination with State government and
oil industry partners, requiring extensive compromise in the determined Response Planning
Standards; and
WHEREAS, oil spill prevention and response contingency planning regulations were adopted by
the State of Alaska in 1992, and the regulations have been revised on nine occasions to clarify
the requirements, streamline the review process, include new categories of contingency plans,
and make the contingency planning process less onerous and the approval of those plans more
predictable and expeditious; and
WHEREAS, as a result of post -Exxon Valdez oil spill laws and regulations, Alaska has world-
class oil spill prevention and response requirements to protect its people and its environment, as
well as commercial and sport fishing, aquaculture, recreation, tourism, subsistence, and cultural
interests; and
WHEREAS, on October 15, 2019, the State of Alaska's Department of Environmental
Conservation Commissioner issued a public scoping notice seeking input on existing regulations
and statutes because he has "heard from many Alaskans that contingency plans are
unnecessarily burdensome while lacking corresponding environmental benefits;" and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the Department of Environmental Conservation recognize that
existing regulations have worked to allow 30 profitable years while industry complied with the laws
and regulations, demonstrating the requirements are not too burdensome, and to not disregard
the hard work of hundreds of Alaskans who worked tirelessly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill to
ensure that the State of Alaska would never again suffer an environmental disaster like what
occurred in 1989; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2020-19
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WHEREAS, reducing the burden on industry by rolling back or eliminating proven oil spill
prevention and response requirements transfers the risk and burden of another oil spill to the
communities, citizens, and environment; and
WHEREAS, The Assembly of the Kodiak Island Borough recognizes Kodiak's dependence on
fisheries and healthy marine environment and has an interest in protecting our community's
social, environmental, and economic wellbeing from any future oil spills.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH stands strongly against any legislative or regulatory changes that erode oil spill
prevention and response standards, increasing the risk of a catastrophic spill; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
believes that, if the system created after the 1989 spill is weakened, Alaskans will likely face an
increased risk of reliving another major oil spill that could damage Alaska's commercial, sport and
subsistence fishing, sport and subsistence hunting, other businesses, fish, wildlife, environment,
and the culture and quality of life of the people.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS SIXTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2020.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ATTEST:
t1/1
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iam R erts, Mayor Tara Welinsky, Clerk
VOTES:
Ayes: Arndt, Dvorak, Kavanaugh, Schroeder, Skinner, Symmons, Turner
Noes:
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2020-19
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