Cook Inlet Navigator NOVEMBER 2017
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COOK INLET   
Regional Citizens Advisory Council  

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CIRCAC WELCOMES NEW TOURISM STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
Section 5002 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 instructs us to represent locally based tourism groups. OPA 90 recognized that representing a broad range of interests would make CIRCAC a more effective organization when speaking on behalf of citizens and organizations to protect Cook Inlet's waters and shorelines. 
 
We are pleased and proud to welcome four new members to our Tourism Interest Group. Our Credentials Committee met in October to review the applications and certify the Homer, Kenai, Kodiak and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce.  
 
CIRCAC staff continues to reach out to tourism-focused organizations operating in the Cook Inlet and Kodiak Island areas as we learn more about the industry, its priorities, and challenges. If your organization would like to learn more about how it, too, can become a certified member of CIRCAC, contact our Director of Public Outreach, Lynda Giguere.  

CIRCAC IS ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR 2018
 
For the 4th straight year, CIRCAC is giving away two $2500 scholarships to help Cook Inlet students who are working toward degrees or certificates in environmental science or maritime studies.  We're accepting applications right now and would like to take this opportunity to thank the 4th Annual Kodiak Island Scholarship Fair for helping us get the word out. We've also recently distributed scholarship applications at the APICC (Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium) Annual Meeting in Anchorage.  
 
Missed us at those two events? You can learn more about our scholarship program and how to apply here. 

2016 CIRCAC Scholarship recipient for James Carter Memorial Scholarship in Environmental Science
Our 2017 James Carter Memorial Scholarship recipient and UAS student Michaela Zurflueh.


 

CIRCAC, partners share expertise during drill exercise with Andeavor Alaska


CIRCAC Executive Director Mike Munger (seated second from right) served as an advisor to the Unified Command.

The Andeavor Incident Management Team, CIRCAC, US Coast Guard, Alaska Departments of Environmental Conservation, Alaska State Troopers, Fish and Game and Natural Resources; Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) Emergency Management Division, NOAA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and CISPRI all put our best feet forward during a well-attended drill exercise at CISPRI headquarters in Nikiski on November 2. The scenario consisted of a catastrophic release from a large storage tank,  injured personnel, a major road closure, and spill into Cook Inlet waters. CIRCAC staff participated tin the drill exercise design and development process and throughout the Incident Command System during the exercise; as an advisor to the Unified Command, within the Environmental Unit, in the Joint Information Center, as a member of the drill facilitation team as "Truth/Control"  providing information injects to the Operations Section. Regional representatives from both CIRCAC and KPB contributed valuable local and historical knowledge of the area.

CIRCAC Director of Operations Steve "Vinnie" Catalano (at right with Craig Hyder, Regional Manager of Contingency Planning for Andeavor) developed "truth" injects to challenge the ICS Units.
The purpose for this exercise was to fulfill the regulatory requirements of the National Preparadness Response Exercise Program (NPREP) and to demonstrate the capability of industry and agency partners to work together in order to minimize and mitigate the potential impact of an oil spill to the navigable waters of Cook Inlet. Drills also provide an opportunity to become better acquainted with the people who would be involved in the event of a real incident.

CIRCAC Director of Science and Research Sue Saupe (seated center) brought her considerable knowledge of Cook Inlet to bear in the Environmental Unit.

Coming up: 
 
November 30-December 1 - CIRCAC Board of Directors Meeting, Sheraton Hotel, Anchorage
December 5-7 Clean Gulf Conference & Expo, Houston 
Cook Inlet Regional
Citizens Advisory Council
[email protected]
http://www.circac.org