Mr. Buzz Roman (above, right) of Cook Inlet Spill Prevention & Response, Inc. led tours of the Seabulk Montana and the CISPRI Responder Barge for the group. Also pictured (l to r) Mr. Lin Jei-hong of the Storage Transportation Division of Chinese Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Sung Hsin-chen, and Mr. Fang Ing-chi, a Legislative Aide for the Taiwan Legislative Yua.

September Video conference Links Alaska Environmental Experts with
Taiwan Audience

ITMD organized a one-hour video conference featuring three Alaska oil spill preparedness and response experts for an audience in Taiwan on September 28. The experts are John Bauer, State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Robert Heavilin, Alaska Chadux Corporation; and Mark Schindler, Lynx Enterprises. The Taiwan audience included representatives of the Taiwan Coast Guard, Taiwan EPA, Chinese Petroleum Corporation, and the Kaohsiung Institute of Marine Technology. The video conference was supported by the American Institute in Taiwan and the U.S. Asia Environmental Partenrship office in Taipei.

The video conference follows on the heels of other exchanges this year between Alaska and Taiwan on oil spill preparedness and response. The Amorgos oil spill early this year off the south coast of Taiwan has focused public attention on the need for quick response and preparedness. John Bauer was invited by the Taiwan government in early spring to consult on the Amorgos oil spill. In April, a delegation of five individuals from Taiwan Coast Guard, Taiwan EPA, Taiwan Legislative Yuan, and Chinese

Petroleum Corporation traveled to Alaska for a week-long review of spill preparedness and response facilities and planning processes.