The Prince William Sound Area Contingency Plan (PWS ACP) represents a coordinated and cooperative effort by government agencies. This document contains information applicable to pollution response within the Prince William Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) coastal zone. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) have written this area contingency plan jointly. It meets the pollution response contingency planning requirements under the National Contingency Plan (NCP) and the Alaska Regional Contingency Plan (RCP) applicable to the State and Federal government. Additional references and tools to support a response linked within the ACP are available on the ADEC’s website. These references and tools provide valuable information used to support a response to an oil discharge or hazardous substance release anywhere in Alaska.

The PWS state and federal On-Scene Coordinators seek participation from interested parties in the PWS Area Committee in our response preparedness efforts. If you would like to participate in the Area Committee, please contact the PWS Area Secretary, LT Shelby Frasca Shelby.E.Frasca@uscg.mil, or Victoria Colles, DEC AK Area Planner.

Public Engagement Opportunities

Next Area Committee Meeting

Plan Documents

• The Prince William Sound Area Contingency Plan Version 2020.1
  • Last update: October 2022
• PWS Draft ACP Currently Under Review

Associated Plan Documents

Dispersant Use Avoidance Areas

• Dispersant Avoidance Areas

Area Map (click image to expand)

The Prince William Sound Area mimics the Captain of the Port Zone and extends seaward from the coastline 200 nautical miles to the Economic Exclusion Zone. The Area also extends inland 1,000 yards. The following geographic zones lie partially within the Prince William Sound Area:

• 2 - Prince William Sound

Note- The Western boundary of the Prince William Sound Area and Prince William Sound Geographic Zone are slightly offset (less than 20km). The following maps provide a visual representation of this offset:

• Prince William Sound Area map
• Large scale town of Whittier map

Past Area Committee Meetings

• Meeting Date: March 14, 2024
• Meeting Agenda:PWS Area Committee Agenda March 14, 2024
• Presentations:
  • ADEC 
  • USCG 
  • EPA 
• Roles and Responsibilities Presentation
• Drones in Response 
• RSC Taskforce 
• GRS Project 
• Ferry Terminal 
• Meeting Date: October 5, 2023
• Meeting Agenda: PWS Area Committee Agenda October 5, 2023
• Presentations:

• Alyeska Prevention and Response Programs
• Cybersecurity and the Maritime Environment 
• GRS Digitalization Project

• Meeting Date: October 13, 2022
• Meeting Agenda: PWS Area Committee Meeting Agenda, October 13, 2022
• Presentations:

• PWS Area Committee Meeting Fall 2022
• Rob Edwardson D17 Tribal Liaison
• National Pollution Fund Center
• Prince William Sound Area Committee Meeting Minutes

• Meeting Date: April 18, 2023
• Meeting Agenda: PWS Area Committee Meeting Agenda, April 18, 2023
• Presentations:

• PWS Area Committee Meeting Minutes April 2023
• GRS Project Update
• Shepard Point Marine Tribal Transportation Oil Spill and Marine Casualty Response Facility

For More Information

• Area Secretary LT Shelby Frasca, Shelby.E.Frasca@uscg.mil
• Contact DEC: decsparplanning@alaska.gov