News

CIRCAC Elections Notice

Annual elections to CIRCAC’s Board of Directors will take place at our annual meeting, April 14th, 2023. We are also looking for committee volunteers (see below). For more information on how to participate, email shayloncochra@circac.org.   Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council   Concerned Citizens Needed   Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC) is » Learn More

Pre-winter meeting held in Seward

Staff accompanied Board President Gary Fandrei and Board Secretary/Treasurer Deric Marcorelle to the annual Pre-Winter meeting in Seward October 26th and 27th. Director of Operations Steve “Vinnie” Catalano provided an update on CIRCAC’s work expanding and deploying the Cook Inlet Ice Camera Network. The network, which is a long term and ongoing project involving industry » Learn More

AVTEC Scholarship winner announced

We are happy to announce Carly Ness is the winner of this year’s Marathon/CIRCAC scholarship for the Alaska Maritime Training Center at AVTEC. The $2,500 scholarship program launched in 2019 in partnership with Marathon Petroleum to “provide advanced training for Cook Inlet’s challenging environment,” says Captain John Schneider of Marathon, who was instrumental in designing » Learn More

State seeking comments for derelict vessel fund

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is considering drafting regulations regarding the derelict vessel prevention program fund and derelict vessel enforcement authority. Regulations for the fund would allow the Department to direct disbursement of monies that have accumulated in the fund to benefit communities, agencies, and organizations impacted by derelict vessel issues. Enforcement regulations would » Learn More

CIRCAC staff participate in Marathon drill

CIRCAC’s Director of Operations Steve “Vinnie” Catalano and Director of Communications and Public Outreach Shaylon Cochran participated in a response drill facilitated by Marathon Petroleum on August 31st at the Cook Inlet Spill Response, Inc. (CISPRI) offices in Nikiski. The purpose of the exercise was to provide the Marathon Incident Management team and relevant agency » Learn More

Board Profile: Walt Sonen

Walt grew up outside Washington D.C. Commercial fishing ventures took him across the globe, including several years working in Japan and fishing with a family in Hokkaido. He came to the Seldovia area in 1976 and has worked primarily as a commercial fisherman since. “I met a wonderful woman here and moved to town three » Learn More

September CIRCAC Board meeting announcement

The CIRCAC Board of Directors will meet on September 9th in Seldovia. Meeting details available here. Location and format are subject to change pending changes in ongoing public health concerns.

CIRCAC earns recertification

Each year, CIRCAC is required to apply for recertification from the United States Coast Guard. The purpose of the recertification process is to ensure that through our operations and partnerships, we are successful in meeting the mandates of our guiding legislation in OPA 90. Earning this recognition is our highest priority in maintaining the public’s » Learn More

Alaska House Bill 567 turns 30

It’s almost hard to believe it’s been more than 30 years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. One reason is because the work done since then has prevented a slide back into complacency by continuing to apply the lessons learned in the immediate aftermath of the spill. Exxon Valdez spurred both federal and state legislatures, » Learn More

Summer field work resumes

We are pleased to have resumed field activities this summer after being unable to do so over the past two years due to COVID travel restrictions. First on the list is updating coastal imagery and habitat information along the outer Kenai Peninsula. This area was originally surveyed in 2002 and was one of the earliest » Learn More