ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Aleutian Islands Risk Assessment (AIRA) Advisory Panel convened for the first time in Anchorage on Thursday, May 14th, marking a significant step forward for the Risk Assessment.  

Nearly 30 stakeholders and experts participated in the full day of open and closed discussions, including the newly assembled Advisory Panel, Nuka Research and Planning Group (an expert firm selected to facilitate the Advisory Panel), the AIRA Management Team, public attendees and special guests.  Advisory Panel members unable to attend in person participated via web conference.

“This Risk Assessment has been tasked with finding a way to reduce the risks that these ships and other human activities have posed to the Aleutian Islands and western Alaska,” said Rear Admiral Gene Brooks, Commander, 17^th Coast Guard District, in his opening remarks during the public session.  “The establishment of this Advisory Panel brings us one step closer to fulfilling that task.”

In 2008, a report titled “Special Report 293, Risk of Vessel Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment,” was issued by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies to provide a scientifically rigorous framework for the AIRA.  The TRB report recommended an organizational structure consisting of four key groups to complete the AIRA: a Management Team, an Advisory Panel, a Risk Analysis Team, and a Peer Review Panel.  The Advisory Panel is intended to bring a structured stakeholder and participatory approach to the AIRA, to build public confidence in the project, clarify the values and goals that should inform the initiative, incorporate local information and knowledge that might otherwise be missed, and provide suggestions for potential policy changes from a variety of differing viewpoints.

The first major duty of the Advisory Panel during the opening meetings was to review and comment on a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will solicit the services of a Risk Analysis Team to perform the initial phase of the actual risk assessment.  The RFP is scheduled to be released this week.

 “What we learn from this Risk Assessment will hopefully translate into safer shipping operations for the State of Alaska and seaboards across the United States,” said Commissioner Larry Hartig, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

 Background

In December 2004, the grounding and breakup of the bulk carrier Selendang Ayu during a severe storm focused public attention on the risks posed by vessels transiting the Aleutians.  Six crew members from the Selendang Ayu lost their lives when a Coast Guard helicopter went down during the rescue.  It also resulted in a spill of 336,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil near the shores of Unalaska Island.  While this incident was particularly severe, other accidents, spills, and near misses have taken place and continue to occur in the region.      

A federal court settlement following the Selendang Ayu grounding specified that certain community service funds paid by the defendant in that case be allocated to pay for a comprehensive risk assessment of ship accidents and spills in the Aleutians and for the conduct of projects identified to minimize those risks.  The AIRA is being funded by this community service payment.  

For more information, please visit the AIRA Website at: http://www.aleutiansriskassessment.com/