June 15, 2005, 9:15 a.m. AST - Alaska Residents and Native Corporations contribute to successful response cleanup on Unalaska

DATE: June 15, 2005 09:12:55 AKST

June 15, 2005, 9:15 a.m. AST - Alaska Residents and Native Corporations contribute to successful response cleanup on Unalaska - Unified Command Press Release

Motor Vessel Selendang Ayu Unified Command

Unified Command Joint Information Center

June 15, 2005

Contact: Joint Information Center
(907) 581-7158

Coast Guard information officer: (907) 581-7158

State of Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation information officer:

(907) 321-5491

Responsible party's information officer: (845) 629-0359

Unified Command Press Release

Alaska Residents and Native Corporations

contribute to successful response cleanup on Unalaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two months into the resumption of the Selendang Ayu response spring and summer shoreline cleanup, the Unified Command and its response teams report progress following the carefully worked out recommendations of the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT).

Progress is being made to the 768 sites, which have been surveyed, marked and prioritized for cleanup.

A community of workers made up almost exclusively of Alaskan residents and Alaska Native Corporations is doing the work. Alaskan residents staff more than 88 percent of the response effort. Fifty percent of the response is drawn from Native Corporations.

This marks one of the first times a Unified Command has been able to draw upon such a large local community to support a local response. Howard Hile of Gallagher Marine, responding on behalf of the vessel's managers IMC in December, made an early commitment to the State, Coast Guard and local residents to hire Alaskans and local residents. Dave Barry, with Gallagher Marine, primary responder for the Selendang Ayu commenting on the enormous local support, stated, "From the moment the accident occurred, when the community on Unalaska took in the crew rescued by the Coast Guard, this has been a special response. Besides the obvious fact that funds being expended in the cleanup are remaining in Alaska, the wealth of local knowledge has greatly facilitated our response efforts. It has been a very positive experience for those of us who are the fortunate beneficiaries of this community of effort. We are very appreciative."

Leslie Pearson with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation stated, "We are grateful to the entire community of Unalaska for the hospitality it has shown during the challenging response and cleanup. We have especially appreciated the invaluable assistance, local expertise and knowledge that we've been able to draw from in solving and overcoming a number of problems and obstacles. The success of our efforts continues to depend on such a positive local involvement."

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