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March 2010

Vol. 15, No. 12 Week of March 21, 2010

Alaska oil watchdog group tabs new leader

Former Coast Guard commander in Valdez, to take over helm of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council

Wesley Loy

For Petroleum News

An Alaska oil industry watchdog group has hired the U.S. Coast Guard’s former Valdez commanding officer to lead the organization.

Mark Swanson will take over as executive director of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council effective April 15, the Valdez-based group announced March 15.

Swanson replaces John Devens, who left the position in February 2009. Council staffer Donna Schantz has been serving as acting executive director and contended for the job Swanson ultimately won. She’ll return to her former post as director of programs.

Swanson headed the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Office in Valdez from 2002 until his retirement in 2005 at the rank of commander.

“We’re extremely happy to get someone of Mark’s caliber to lead our group,” said Steve Lewis, president of council’s board of directors. “He brings not only long experience in marine safety issues, but also very specific familiarity with the crude-oil facilities and operations we oversee in Prince William Sound.”

As Coast Guard’s commanding officer in Valdez, one of Swanson’s duties was to serve as a non-voting member of the council board.

“I am familiar with and in passionate agreement with the goals and objectives of the council,” Swanson said in a council press release. “Even conscientious politicians, regulators and industry can sometimes need encouragement to make sure they’re doing everything required to safeguard the environment and protect the interests of citizens.”

Watchdog’s origin and work

The council is a congressionally sanctioned nonprofit, formed after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. It keeps watch over the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. oil terminal and tanker operations at Valdez and in Prince William Sound.

The council’s work has included reviewing oil spill preparedness plans; pushing for policies such as continued tug escorts for tankers and tighter limits on air and water pollution around the terminal; conducting scientific and technical studies; and on rare occasion challenging Alyeska in court.

The oil industry, under a 1990 contract with Alyeska, provides most of the funding for the council, which has an annual budget of more than $3 million and a staff of 18 in Valdez and Anchorage. The contract is to last as long as oil flows through the trans-Alaska pipeline.

The council has 19 member organizations including local governments plus commercial fishing, environmental, Native, and recreation and tourism groups from across a region stretching from the Sound to Cook Inlet to Kodiak Island.

By law, the council is subject to periodic Coast Guard recertification.

More about Swanson

A native of the Florida Keys, Swanson graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. He also holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and naval architecture from the University of Michigan.

Most recently, Swanson worked as an emergency response manager for Shell Trading and Shipping based in Houston, his resume says.

Prior to that, he worked from 2005 to 2008 with Lloyd’s Register, an international shipping standards organization, as external training manager delivering technical, environmental protection and maritime safety training to shipping companies and terminal operators throughout the Americas.

Among his numerous postings over a 25-year Coast Guard career, Swanson served three tours with Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston.

Swanson and his family will live in Valdez.






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