Implementation and Revision of the Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Alaska's Federal On-Scene Coordinators

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Alaska Regional Response Team (RRT) established the Wildlife Protection Working Group in September 1987 to develop and maintain guidelines to assist Alaska's federal on-scene coordinators (OSC) in dealing with potential wildlife impacts resulting from oil spills. The working group is composed of representatives of four federal and state agencies and three special-interest groups. The guidelines, which were adopted by the Alaska RRT on December 14, 1988, address three response strategies: controlling the release and spread of oil to protect wildlife, keeping wildlife away from spills through the use of deterrent techniques, and attempting to capture and rehabilitate oiled wildlife. Since adoption by the Alaska RRT, the guidelines have been used in conjunction with response activities associated with the following spills: the Swallow diesel fuel and fuel oil spill near Dutch Harbor on February 27, 1989, the Exxon Valdez crude oil spill in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, and the Milos Reefer fuel oil and diesel fuel spill on St. Matthew Island on November 15, 1989. In the Swallow incident, protective booming, bird hazing, and bird capture and rehabilitation programs were conducted in accordance with the guidelines. In the Exxon Valdez incident, information in the guidelines was used to establish the sea otter rescue program and to begin implementation of the bird capture and rehabilitation program. In the Milos Reefer spill, the guidelines were used as the basis for a decision not to initiate a rescue program for birds oiled as a result of the vessel's grounding. In October 1989, the working group met to conduct a review of the guidelines based on experience gained through the Swallow and Exxon Valdez incidents. As a result of this meeting, seven principal additions have been proposed for the guidelines.