HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2020-005 Sponsored by: Council Member Butts
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2020-005
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE CONTINUANCE OF THE STATE
OF ALASKA'S STRINGENT OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND
RESPONSE CONTINGENCY PLANNING REGULATIONS
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,make the contingency planning process less onerous, and make 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 that his Department has
identified regulations that can be eliminated or significantly reformed; and
WHEREAS, despite repeated requests, the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation has yet to provide information on the areas of the statutes or regulations that have
been identified as too burdensome,or that could be eliminated or significantly reformed; and
WHEREAS, it is unreasonable for the Department of Environmental Conservation to
claim now, after 30 profitable years of industry compliance with the laws and regulations, that
the requirements are too burdensome, and this claim disregards the hard work of hundreds of
Alaskans who worked tirelessly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill to ensure that the State of Alaska
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2020-005
would never again suffer an environmental disaster like what occurred in 1989; and
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 City of Seward has an obligation to protect the City's social,
environmental, and economic wellbeing from any future oil spills.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA that:
Section 1. The Seward City Council stands strongly against any legislative or regulatory
changes that erode oil spill prevention and response standards, increasing the risk of a
catastrophic spill.
Section 2. The Seward City Council 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.
Section 3. The Seward City Council requests that the State of Alaska's Department of
Environmental Conservation provide information on the statutes and regulations the Department
has claimed can be eliminated or significantly reformed.
Section 4.This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this
13th day of January,2020.
TH ,. IT SF/W� •v.KA
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Casty Terry, ayo
AYES: Osenga, Baclaan, Butts, Lane, McClure, Terry
NOES: None
ABSENT: Seese
ABSTAIN: None
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2020-005
ATTEST:
Brenda J. Ballou, MMC
City Clerk
(City Seal .••'`�`
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