Following remarks of the work group chairs, members of the public were invited to comment and ask questions of the steering committee and work group chairs. Paula Terrell, representing Alaska Conservation Alliance, spoke to the difficulty of gaining public participation in the environmental leadership process. She said the reason was that citizen s groups feel outnumbered by members of the cruise ship industry. She wanted measurable results in environmental leadership, including third party verification. Nonetheless, NWCA was committed to doing the right things to keep the process moving forward.
Every voice is important.
There will be no voting. In addition, each agency has its own mandates and priorities outside the work group. She contended that her fears would be put to rest when the list of violations against cruise ships was shortened and when ships with violations would be prohibited from entering port. Ms. Schroeder told the steering committee that ACA would soon determine to what extent their would involve themselves in Environmental Awareness Day. His long-term concern was that new ships have not incorporated new technologies that limit or eliminate stream waste discharges.