Attached is an ordinance accepting and appropriating a grant of $20,000.00 from the State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, to develop and implement geographically based response strategies (GRS) in lower and central Cook Inlet. The purpose of the GRS is to produce site specific response plans that can be used to protect sensitive areas in the event of an oil spill. While this process has just begun in Alaska with only the Kodiak Island Borough having developed GRS on an areawide basis, Washington, Oregon and Idaho have adopted Geographic Response Plans as part of the Area Contingency Plan. Additionally, the Alaska Clean Seas, operating on the North Slope, has begun to develop GRS and in the Prince William Sound a GRS has been developed for the Copper River area.

A work group has been formed which includes representatives from local, state, and federal resource management agencies, Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response, and Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council. The group will be selecting twenty sites for initial development of response strategies considering factors such as environmental sensitivity, risk of being impacted from a spill and the likelihood of achieving protection using a known strategy.

Acceptance of these funds will allow the borough to assist in the development and implementation of geographically based response strategies for central and lower Cook Inlet. Due to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999 and the Assembly meeting schedule for June and July, a shortened hearing is requested.