RDC Comment Letter:
Support Alternative Four: FEIS Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility

January 29, 2007

Kristin K’eit

Environmental Scientist

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Region

Box 25520

Juneau, AK 99802-5520

Re: Final EIS of Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility

Dear Ms. K’eit:

The Resource Development Council (RDC) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility.

RDC is a statewide non-profit business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, forest products, fisheries and tourism industries.  RDC’s membership also includes Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor and industry-support firms.  RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

RDC supports Alternative 4, the preferred alternative, and encourage a timely record of decision. Alternative 4 would provide road access from the Cordova airport, to a deepwater dock and Oil Spill Response Facility at Shepard Point. This facility would allow all-tide transfer of equipment and supplies from the all-weather airport, the most reliable in Prince William Sound, to a wider variety of vessels at Shepard Point. Construction of the facility would re-establish a deepwater dock for Cordova, which lost its deepwater attributes when the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake uplifted the harbor and surrounding lands.

The port would be capable of accommodating the deepest draft response vessels at any tide, allowing for continuous loading and re-supply of vessels. The preferred alternative would allow for a project that would provide all-tide access to any ship without dredging. The dredging required at other sites would raise permitting and dredge-waste disposal issues.

RDC has supported expansion of infrastructure throughout Alaska and this project is especially beneficial, given its oil spill response capabilities.

Thank you for the opportunity to present comments in support of the Preferred Alternative.

Sincerely,

Resource Development Council