Developing partnerships with local communities to expand Alaska's oil and hazardous substance spill response capabilities and readiness Prevention and Emergency Response Program

Hundreds of oil and hazardous substance spills occur across Alaska every year. Whether from freighters, fishing boats, leaking storage tanks, discarded wastes, abandoned drums, mystery spills, or other sources, these spills can cause serious damage to public health and property as well as to the environment.

Because of the vast size of the state and the remote location of many of its cities and communities, local residents are frequently the first line of defense in responding to oil or hazardous substance releases. In many cases outside responders cannot arrive in time to deal with the immediate impacts, especially a life-threatening release of a hazardous gas such as chlorine or ammonia.

Alaska's communities can play an important role in minimizing the impacts of oil and hazardous substance spills. According to the January 1990 report by the Alaska Oil Spill Commission entitled Spill: the Wreck of the Exxon Valdez :

"A substantive role should be given to the affected communities in any response system ... local interests, local knowledge and experience . . . often made the community-based work force the most efficient available."

Recognizing the importance of local involvement, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is working with local communities to provide for coordinated and effective response and to expand the network of resources available to protect human health and the environment from the risks associated with oil and hazardous substance spills. By forging partnerships at the local level, both DEC and local residents will be better prepared to respond to these incidents.

More about DEC's Community Spill Response Program: