Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee

The Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee was established by the Legislature to advise the department in carrying out specific policies and duties set forth by the Legislature.

Committee duties include:

- Track implementation of and regulations related to the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and recommend to the Legislature any statutory changes or to the board any appropriate regulatory changes. Additionally, review contingency plan requirements, opportunities and constraints of the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and oil spill prevention measures;

- Monitor the adequacy of the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in light of information on the potential risks and costs of an oil spill and the State’s exposure and liability under the fund;

- Monitor the effects of the State’s oil spill liability laws on oil spill prevention;

- Review expenditures and the priority for expenditures of the Maine Coastal and Inland Surface Oil Clean-up Fund and make recommendations to the commissioner on how the fund shall be allocated;

- Review the commissioner’s program for identifying areas sensitive to oil spill in the marine environment and the development of resource protection priorities;

- Review and provide comment on the State’s marine oil spill contingency plan;

- Monitor oil spill planning and prevention activities by industry, oil spill response organizations and the United States Coast Guard;

- Monitor the commissioner’s assessment of adequate oil spill response equipment and vessels for the State;

- Review the implementation of a plan for rehabilitation of wildlife resources including training programs and opportunities for volunteers and state and federal personnel, and preliminary agreements or identification of treatment centers or facilities;

- Monitor scientific, engineering and technical advances in oil spill response and prevention techniques and make recommendations of their use, and

- Review and monitor issues for oil spill prevention and response and recommend to the Legislature any statutory changes or to the board any regulatory changes that are appropriate.

The Committee is comprised of the following membership:

Three members representing the marine fisheries interest (including lobster, aquaculture, and sardine industries); three members representing the general public; two members representing the petroleum industry; one member familiar with oil spill technology; one naval architect, one member with expertise in coastal geology; one member with expertise in fisheries biology; one member with expertise in coastal wildlife habitat; and, one member who is a licensed state pilot or a licensed merchant marine officer.

Members include:

Stephen Crawford (represents Marine Fisheries) – telephone: 207-853-0982
David Cyr (represents Petroleum Industries) - telephone: 207-767-0421
Jane Disney (represents General Public)
Capt. San Juan Dunbar (licensed State Pilot) – telephone: 207-774-5623
Richard Harnum (represents Petroleum Industry) – telephone: 207-942-5501
James Kalian (represents Oil Spill Technology) – telephone: 207-626-7030
Normand Laberge, Chair (represents General Public) – telephone: 207-259-8282
Steven Pelletier (represents Coastal Wildlife Habitat) – telephone: 207-729-1199
John Sowles (represents Fisheries Biology) – telephone: 207-633-9518

Note: The committee currently has five vacancies in the following areas:

Naval Architect, General Public, Coastal Geology, and two representing Marine Fisheries

Individuals interested in serving on the Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee, please contact Tambra Gallant, Committee Staff, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, at 207-287-2786 or 207-287-2651.