Ulmer hosts listening session for Gulf of Mexico cleanup ideas

July 08, 2010

University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Fran Ulmer says she'd like to be a bridge between Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico for Alaskans' advice on cleaning up the oil spill. (Phil Walczak/KTUU-DT)

by Channel 2 News staff
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Fran Ulmer held a listening session Wednesday night to hear recovery and response ideas for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The event, the first in a series of sessions, was held in the Student Union lounge of the UAA campus. The listening session was a chance for Alaskans with knowledge on oil spills to voice suggestions.

Ulmer was appointed to a national commission to investigate the spill. She says she wants to hear ideas from area experts who have experience with the state's oil and gas industry and carry that information to the gulf.

"I'd like to be a bridge between Alaska and the gulf and to help in whatever way I can with the information, and the experiences of Alaskans to bring that to the gulf and to the commission that I will be serving on," Ulmer said.

"I don't really know a lot about cleaning up oil, so I didn't come for that," said student Katrielle Bruce. "I came to just hear what the community had to say, and maybe learn a bit about cleaning up oil."

Ulmer says there will be a session Thursday at the University of Alaska Southeast and possibly one next month at the Fairbanks campus.

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