Summary

The Alaska Oil Spill Technology Symposium provides a unique opportunity to discuss cutting edge oil spill research, emerging technologies, protective strategies, response capabilities and capacities in Alaska. Participants span the research and response community and include organizations, such as: the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, United States Coast Guard, University of Alaska, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oil Spill Response Organizations, Alaska’s Regional Citizens’ Advisory Councils, and large and small energy producers.

It provides an opportunity to learn about research developments, agency initiatives, emerging technologies, incident management, work priorities, policy developments, and knowledge gaps. The format promotes information sharing on oil spill response challenges at northern latitudes and has the added benefit of clarifying roles, responsibilities, resources, and expectations, which improves resource protection.

The 2022 symposium will be held on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus at the Wood Center’s main ballroom (505 South Chandalar Drive). As in 2018, this year’s symposium is organized into several theme-based sessions, rather than focusing on one overarching theme. We have a great lineup of speakers, who will discuss and demonstrate: Spill Detection and Tracking Technologies; Unmanned Vehicle Applications, Contaminant Chemistry, Toxicity, and Remediation; In-Situ Burning; Intentional Wellhead Ignition; emerging technologies; and some of the newest response technologies associated with waterborne in situ oil burning will be demonstrated, during a live in situ oil burn at the Poker Flat Research Range (Mile 30 Steese Highway). A detailed agenda will be added to the website after the final speakers have confirmed their participation.

We’d like to take advantage of the broad array of expertise in the room by seeking your thoughts on challenges, potential solutions, and related ideas as you listen to presentations. We hope your input may identify additional gaps or resources, streamline decision-making processes, and ultimately shape prevention, preparedness, and response policies in Alaska, so please share your thoughts generously.

Registration

Costs associated with the in situ burn are significantly more than costs for previous symposia, so the University of Alaska Fairbanks is collecting a $100 registration fee per person this year. All guests, including those who previously registered via email are asked to register for the 2022 Alaska Oil Spill Technology Symposium. We’re grateful to the Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Cook Inlet RCAC, and Prince William Sound RCAC for sponsoring the 2020 Alaska Oil Spill Technology Symposium. Their generous support is helping to lower registration fees.

Lodging

A group rate of $69/night has been negotiated for the first 50 guests who register to stay at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge (toll free: 877-774-2400 or 907-456-4500). The code for the symposium rate is AOSTS 4/13/2020.

Contacts

Please contact Kimberley Maher (907-451-2124) or Jessica Garron (907-455-2035) for more information.

Attention Coast Guard personnel: the mandatory DHS Conference Request is in process. LT Andrew Sinclair (907-463-2806) is the POC. Please contact him directly if you have any questions regarding the request.