TONIGHT: Exxon Valdez anniversary events highlights spill-related research, stories

Tonight, March 24, 7-8:30 p.m.
Rasmuson Hall, Room 101

Wednesday, March 25, 5-7 p.m.
UAA Campus Bookstore

This evening, a one-hour presentation and audience discussion will focus on citizen oversight of the marine transportation industry. It will be preceded by a screening at 7 p.m. of a new, 29-minute video from the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council, titled Then and Now: The Alaska Oil Spill at 20.

On Wednesday, March 25, from 5-7 p.m., Sharon Bushell and Stan Jones will present their book, The Spill: Personal Stories from the Exxon Valdez Disaster from 5-7 p.m. at the UAA Campus Bookstore.

Leading the discussion Tuesday night will be two members of the Alaska Sea Grant Exxon Valdez legal research team, Zygmunt Plater, an environmental law professor at Boston College Law School and Harry Bader, J.D., former UAG professor of resource management and current CEO of the Betula Group, an international environmental consulting firm. They will discuss the Alaska Sea Grant-supported legal research they conducted with two other legal scholars in 1989-1990.

Their work provided the State of Alaska with recommendations on legal tools to bolster state oversight of the oil transport industry. The team's findings were incorporated into the 1990 final report to the governor by the Alaska Oil Spill Commission, chaired by Walt Parker. Their recommendations also contributed to the formulation of the federal Oil Spill Act of 1990. That report is available at the Sea Grant Web site. Read about more oil spill anniversary activities at the Sea Grant Web site.

Wednesday, Bushell and Jones will present the story of 62 people who recall the happenings of that desperate day, March 24, 1989, when the oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef. Learn how oil-spill prevention and emergency response planning has changed since the spill and the role of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen's Advisory Council plays as a watchdog group.

Everyone is encouraged to attend and ask questions. Are we prepared for another emergency? What should Alaskans be doing? This event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available, too. For more information, contact Rachel Epstein at (907) 786-4782.