Discussion Questions: Safeguarding Alaska's Waters

• What are some of the potential environmental hazards associated with the transport of oil?
• What are some of the properties of water that make spilled oil difficult to clean up?
• What is meant by the statement, "When the tide is out, the table is set." Discuss what natural foods are on the "table," which items on the "table" are disrupted by oil, and whether the changes observed are permanent or temporary.
• In what ways might introducing a new plant or a new fish into an aquatic ecosystem affect the entire food web?
• Why is it important to have an organization like the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council monitor what the oil industry is doing to avoid releasing toxic materials and contamination into the environment?