HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2001-046
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Sponsored by: Janke
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2001-046
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, REQUESTING THAT ALYESKA/SERVS AND PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND OIL SHIPPERS PLACE AN APPROPRIATE CACHE OF
SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT, TOGETHER WITH APPROPRIATE
TRAINING, IN SEWARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR LOCAL AREA
WHEREAS, it is now 12 years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward and the Kenai Fjords National Park were among the many
communities severely impacted by that disaster; and
WHEREAS, the history of the spill shows us that the movement of any future spills will most
likely carry oil toward the downstream communities ofChenega, Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park,
Seldovia, Homer, Cook Inlet and Kodiak; and
WHEREAS, the Kenai Fjords tourism industry, the commercial fishing industry, the charter
fishing industry, the cruise ship industry, the coal exporting industry, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the
Institute of Marine Science, the Qutekcak Shellfish Hatchery, the A VTEC maritime training
department, and the Seward shipyard would all be devastated or closed by a future major oil spill in
our waters; and
WHEREAS, a majority of the 3,000 inhabitants in this community depend upon these various
industries for their livelihoods; and
WHEREAS, no meaningful amount of oil spill response equipment, or persons trained in the
use of that equipment, has ever been stationed in Seward or in any other downstream community; and
WHEREAS, Seward has a group offishing vessel volunteers who are ready to respond to
an oil spill, these same volunteers have no response equipment on hand with which to drill or respond
to a spill; and
WHEREAS, an oil spill is most likely to happen in stormy winter weather when the rapid
deployment of response equipment to downstream communities from Valdez may be impossible for
some days; and
WHEREAS, it would be easier in an oil spill emergency to transport personnel from Valdez
to Seward by air rather than to transport heavy equipment by road or sea. Then a store of equipment
already in Seward would be an advantage.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2001-046
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
Section 1. The Seward City Council urges the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation and Alyeska/SER VS to place oil spill response equipment, together with appropriate
personnel training, into this first downstream community from Prince William Sound.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 27th
day of March, 2001.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
EJ9-, /1~~ t'
Edgar Blatchford, Mayor
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Brossow, Calhoon, Clark, King, Shafer
None
Blatchford, Orr
None
ATTEST:
Patrick Reilly
City Clerk .....
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