Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on LinkedIn: Our Food Safety team partners with farmers markets throughout the state to… (2024)

DEC has opened the Response Account of the Oil and Hazardous Substance Release Prevention and Response Fund to provide ample supplies and free cleanup services to community members faced with the impacts of flood related spills. Spill response and solid waste staff are on the ground through the weekend to provide hands-on assistance to those in need.“I am proud of the willingness of our staff to work overtime throughout the weekend to support the community,” said Emma Pokon, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. “Our top priority is for residents to get the help they need and to make cleanup as expeditious as possible.”DEC is working closely with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the City and Borough of Juneau, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF), and others. DOT&PF trucks continue to pick up loads of curbside debris and waste throughout the impacted area. DEC staff have been working with the Alaska National Guard to help separate hazardous waste for disposal.Remember to report all spills of oil or hazardous substances online at ReportSpills.alaska.gov or over the phone at 1-800-478-9300. Additionally, please keep the following in mind before consuming food impacted by the flood: ❌ Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water.❌ Discard any food and beverage that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water.❌ If you have a freezer, either a chest or upright, which was covered with floodwaters, chances are the food inside has been damaged through seepage. All of this food should be thrown away. ❌ Discard any food in damaged cans. ❌ Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, utensils, and countertops with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse and then sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented household (5.25% concentration) liquid bleach per gallon of water.❌ Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and "retort pouches" (like flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved if thoroughly washed and sanitized. Visit our website to find more resources related to flood preparation and response including food safety here: https://bit.ly/2VSFnZQFind the most up-to-date information on response and volunteer efforts here: https://bit.ly/3Ag11iq.View the website version of this press release here: https://bit.ly/4cnEJZt

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Dillingham's beaches, revered for their natural beauty and recreational value, have recently undergone a comprehensive bacterial assessment to ensure they remain safe and healthy for all to enjoy. In response to concerns regarding the marine water quality in Dillingham, three near-shore public beach sites underwent a thorough bacteria check-up, and the results are in! Partnering with Alaska Water Laboratories LLC, DEC conducted an extensive two-year marine pathogens study from 2022 to 2023. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gNfHUcaRPhoto #1:Kanakanak sample site in Dillingham, Alaska. Photo by Matthew Giani, Alaska Water Laboratories LLC.Photo #2:Seagulls congregate at the Snag Point sample site in Dillingham, Alaska. Photo by Matthew Giani, Alaska Water Laboratories LLC.

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While traveling to Sand Point to assist the community with their landfill, DEC Landfill Specialist Rachel Mills taught nine local children at the Boys and Girls Club about reusing and recycling by helping them upcycle old t-shirts into tote bags! Interested in a job like this? Check out our current openings: https://bit.ly/3S7u51C

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DEC Contaminated Sites Program staff visited contaminated sites on Amchitka Island last month as field work at a former Navy radar facility continues. Contractors have been tracking contamination beneath the ground’s surface using a system called Ultra-Violet Optical Screen Tool (UVOST). The device uses a probe that flashes light underground and measures fluorescence from chemicals found in petroleum that may be present. This method can help determine where contamination lies beneath the surface in real time.Sound like something you're interested in? Check out our current job openings and consider joining the team! https://lnkd.in/dUnk5KK

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We're #hiring an Environmental Program Specialist 4. Apply today or share this post with your network: https://lnkd.in/gm7EGvchSalary: $2,799.75 - $2,940.00 BiweeklyLocation: Anchorage, Soldotna, Wasilla, Fairbanks, or Juneau, AKJob Type: Full TimeJob Number: 46262Division: Office of the CommissionerClosing Date: 7/22/2024 5:00 PM AlaskaBargaining Unit: General GovernmentRange: 20This position is responsible for the oversight and completion of many non-routine Department projects that often require prompt attention, so the incumbent must be able to independently research and compile information into ad hoc reports, often in the form of a professional Word document. Exceptional critical thinking skills, the ability to independently solve problems, apply policy considerations to decision making tasks, and excellent time management skills are a must. This position will also manage changes to the Department's regulatory chapters which require technical writing skills, navigating complex approval processes, and facilitating public participation. Other projects will include the development of presentations and reports, representing the Department at meetings and events, and assisting the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner with other special projects. Tasks will range widely but all will require the ability to be a strong writer and clear communicator.

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DEC Prevention Preparedness and Response staff, along with other state agencies, participated in a tabletop exercise of the Valdez Marine Terminal Incident Management Team in May, simulating a spill to water. It was a great opportunity to practice interagency coordination! Learn more about the program here: https://bit.ly/3yLkyGw

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Oil first flowed through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline on June 20, 1977. Since construction began, DEC has worked with the regulated community to ensure the protection of human health & the environment during its operation, producing jobs and state revenues for essential services for the last 46 years. Learn more about DEC's Division of Spill Prevention and Response: https://bit.ly/3yLkyGw

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Get your chainsaw and splitter serviced & make plans for harvesting firewood so that it has time to season properly before next winter. Dry wood burns hotter, heats your home better, & is better for our air quality! https://bit.ly/3Mh1dzV

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How do spill responders clean up oil on water? How does pollution move through a watershed? DEC staff provided some hands-on activities to answer some of these questions at the annual Salmon Celebration at Johnson Lake campground in Kasilof in May! Students were able to place absorbs on oily water (vegetable oil for safe demonstration!) and watch in real time how the absorb collects oil from the surface without absorbing water. They also simulated a watershed by pouring water on a landscape model that demonstrated how water disperses and drains in a developed area.

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