By Karen Robes Meeks
The US Coast Guard and other agencies will host a three-day seminar on oil spill response on July 25-27 for North Slope residents in Utqiaġivk, Alaska.
The seminar will feature speakers who will discuss various topics, including environmental law, the science of oil spills, oil spill recovery on ice, alternative response technologies, oiled wildlife operations, historic site preservation, international issues related to oil spills, local response teams and their resources, according to the Coast Guard.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and organizations involved in oil spill removal such as Chadux, Alaska Clean Seas, Chemtrack and Global are also expected to participate.
“We aim to provide the North Slope community residents, responders and elders awareness on North Slope oil spill preparedness, planning and response operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jereme Altendorf, planning specialist at Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. “We want the community to have assurance that we are capable to respond to an oil spill in the North Slope environment.”
The seminar will take place at the Barrow High School Auditorium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25-26. An oil spill equipment deployment demonstration will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on July 27 near the Tank Farm.
