Board: Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute Advisory Board
Board identification number: 170
Department:
Authority: PL 101-380 and PL 104-324
Status: Active
Sunset date:
Requirements: No Legislative Confirmation or Financial Disclosure required
Prohibitions: None
Term: 2 years
Chair: Sec. of Commerce Rep
Description: The policies of the Institute shall be determined by an Advisory Board, composed of 16 members (14 voting and 2 non-voting), appointed as follows: one representative appointed by each of the Commissioners of Fish and Game, Environmental Conservation, and Natural Resources, of the State of Alaska, all of whom shall be state employees; one representative appointed by each of the Secretaries of Commerce, the Interior, and Transportation, who shall be federal employees; two representatives from the fishing industry appointed by the Governor of the State of Alaska from among residents of communities in Alaska that were affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill; two representatives from the oil and gas industry to be appointed by the Governor of the State of Alaska; two Alaska Natives who represent Native entities affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, at least one of whom represents an entity located in Prince William Sound, appointed by the Governor of Alaska from a list of 4 qualified individuals submitted by the Alaska Federation of Natives; two at-large representatives from among residents of communities in Alaska that were affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill who are knowledgeable about the marine environment and wildlife within Prince William Sound, appointed by the remaining members of the Advisory Board; one non-voting representative of the Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska; one non-voting representative appointed by the Prince William Sound Science & Technology Institute (dba Prince William Sound Science Center).
Function: To identify and develop the best available techniques, equipment, and materials for dealing with oil spills in the Arctic and subarctic marine environment and to complement Federal and State damage assessment efforts and determine, document, assess, and understand the long range effects of Arctic or subarctic oil spills.
Special facts: The Institute is administered by the Prince William Sound Science & Technology Institute located in Cordova, Alaska (dba Prince William Sound Science Center or PWS Science Center). The original advisory board for the Oil Spill Recovery Institute included 19 members and met from 1992-5, when a lapse in funding occurred. In 1996, Congress approved legislation providing funds for the institute through 2006 and extended funding until 2012. This legislation also revised the composition and reduced the number of advisory board members to 16. The advisory board meets twice annually and determines policies for the conduct and support through contracts and grant awards, on a nationally competitive basis, of research projects and studies. John Calder Director of Arctic Research Office, NOAA, is Chair of the advisory board. Dr. G.L. (Gary) Thomas is Director of the Oil Spill Recovery Institute as well as President of the Prince William Sound Science Center. Dr. John Goering, Professor Emeritus, School of Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, is Chair of the Scientific and Technical Committee.
Compensation: Federal provisions for compensation.
Meetings: Full board mtgs twice per yr (February and September); Executive Committee & Scientific & Technical Committee mtgs as needed.
For further information and to reach individual members, contact:
Katrina Hoffman
Executive Director
Prince William Sound Science Center
P.O. Box 705
Cordova, AK 99574
Phone: (907) 424-5800
Fax: (907) 424-5820
