CITIZENS AND INDUSTRY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE OIL TRANSPORTATION SAFER

摘要

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (RCAC) is an independent non-profit corporation promoting the environmentally safe operation of the Alyeska Marine Terminal in Valdez, Alaska, and associated oil tankers. RCAC's work is mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and guided by a contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Conflict is inherent in the relationship of citizens, industry, and government. The priorities of the citizens and those of the oil industry are fundamentally different and sometimes directly opposed. Such differences do not preclude citizens, industry and government from sharing environmental objectives. Joint projects have been especially successful in promoting effective working relationships between citizens, industry and government. Since 1990, RCAC has participated in several projects with the oil industry and government agencies on a wide range of issues including oil spill drills, disabled tanker towing, a tanker risk assessment, non-indigenous species invasions in waterways, and marine fire response capabilities. When stakeholders develop and manage a project together, disagreements can be identified and worked out early. This can minimize conflict and lead to common ground. Ten years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, citizens, industry and government are working together in Alaska to make oil transportation safer.