PWS Advisory Council Takes Position Against Oil Spill Dispersants
A citizens’ advisory entity established in the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in Alaska’s Prince William Sound (PWS) has taken a tightened stance against use of dispersants in cleanup operations, saying prevention and mechanical recovery are the preferred alternatives.
The updated position of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) says that chemical dispersants used on floating oil slicks should not be used on Alaska North Slope crude oil spills in the PWS region.
Chemical dispersants are substances used on floating oil slicks to break the oil into smaller droplets that disperse into the water column.
The council has for years supported mechanical recovery, with use of booms and skimmers as the primary tool for cleaning up oil ...