USCG recertifies Cook Inlet RCAC

The Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council said Oct. 16 that it has earned U.S. Coast Guard recertification for another year.

The council has been recertified as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet, allowing it to continue monitoring oil facility operations and marine transportation under authorization provided by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

“In addition to ongoing oil discharge prevention and contingency plan review, environmental monitoring, and ensuring industry spill preparedness, we have recently worked to strengthen spill prevention measures at the Drift River Oil Terminal, promote our position in support of a subsea pipeline as an alternative to future Drift River terminal and tanker operations, and have made significant progress toward completing a Cook Inlet navigational risk assessment,” Cook Inlet RCAC Executive Director Mike Munger said in a statement.

The council’s 13 members represent boroughs, cities and municipalities, as well as Alaska Native, commercial fishing, aquaculture, tourism, recreational and environmental groups in the Cook Inlet region.

By law, Cook Inlet RCAC must recertify each year with the Coast Guard to ensure it meets mandates spelled out in OPA ’90 and represents interests of communities in the vicinity of oil terminal operations.

—Petroleum News