sponse capabilities. As part of its activities, the RCAC participates in the monitoring and assessment of environmental, social, and economic consequences of oil-related accidents. The council also comments on and participates in the selection of research and development projects.

The RCAC was initially funded at $2 million per year. This funding is renegotiated every 3 years and is at a level of $2.5 million per year. Although the council works closely with Alyeska, which funds the council, its independence is specified as a condition of its contract with Alyeska.

The RCAC has been in operation for about a decade. Its positive impact on environmental protection in Alaska is now well-recognized. It has aided in ensuring that health risk assessment and the monitoring of studies in Port Valdez are conducted at the highest level of scientific scrutiny. It has conducted a pro-active program of public participation and information dissemination to ensure that the sensitive region is utilized in an environmentally responsible manner by both industry and the region’s citizens.

EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1991. News Release regarding lodging of consent degree for St. Paul Waterway Area Remedial Action and Habitat Restoration Project. June 24, 1991

Parametrix. 1999. St. Paul Waterway Area Remedial Action and Habitat Restoration Project. 1998 Monitoring Report. Unpublished report to Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company, Tacoma, Washington, and Champion International, Stanford, Connecticut for the Washington State Department of Ecology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Parametrix, Seattle, Washington.

Sumeri, A. 1989. Confined Aquatic Disposal and Capping of Contaminated Bottom Sediments in Puget Sound. Proceedings of the WODCON XII, Dredging: Technology, Environmental, Mining, World Dredging Congress, Orlando, FL, 2–5 May, 1989.

Sumeri, A., T.J.Fredette, P.G.Kullberg, J.D.Geermano, D.A.Carey and P.Pechko. 1994. Sediment Chemistry Profiles of Capped Dredged Sediment Deposits Taken 3 to 11 Years After Capping. Dredging Research Technical Note. DRP-5–09. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. May.

Weiner, K.S. 1991. Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Superfund Completion Report for St. Paul Waterway Sediment Remedial Action. Submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company and Champion International Corporation. January 1991.