We are Protectors of Our Land and Sea
We are Alutiq / Sugpiaq people of Prince William Sound and have lived in harmony with our land and sea for thousands of years. Our connection has made us exceptional protectors of the environment and its resources, which are integral to our cultural identity. The Tatitlek Corporation, Chenega Corporation, and Chugach Alaska Corporation recognize the importance of protecting the land and its resources, which is why they established the joint venture, TCC, in 1994. TCC was created to provide oil spill prevention and response services to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez and has since expanded its contract through the acquisition of the Valdez Marine Terminal contract. Through its dedication to safety, TCC has been recognized with multiple awards and continues to be a leader in oil spill prevention and response. The following timeline provides a brief history of TCC’s formation and achievements.
Chugach Alaska Corporation begins providing oil spill prevention, response, and support maintenance services to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez through its Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) contract.
TCC is awarded the 2020 Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence and Alyeska’s prestigious Contractor of the Year (Atigun) award.
18 years before the oil spill, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) marked a new Congressional approach to federal Indian policy.
Per the Alaska Native Commission Report, in 1974, the Secretary of Interior and Alyeska entered into a Native Utilization agreement implementing Section 29, which required Alyeska to ensure that 20% of its workforce and 20% of its contractors’ workforce were Alaska Natives.
Oil Pollution Act raises U.S. spill prevention requirements, Alyeska begins Vessel of Opportunity program.
The EVOS and cleanup19 revealed massive inadequacies in the oil industries’ response capabilities. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) significantly raised U.S. spill prevention requirements, and the Alaska Legislature raised these requirements to an even higher standard.
In response to the new laws, Alyeska begins the Vessel of Opportunity program to employ locals in oil spill response, especially those working in the fishing industry. PWS eventually becomes home to the world’s highest concentration of oil spill response equipment and personnel.
Alyeska entered an agreement to ensure 20% of the workforce and contractors are Alaska Natives.
Through ANCSA, Congress created corporations intended to care for the social, cultural, and economic advancement of their Alaska Native people and communities forever.
Chugach Alaska Corporation and two of the region’s village corporations— Tatitlek Corporation and Chenega Corporation—came together to form TCC. (Tatitlek and Chenega 49%; Chugach 51%).
The SERVS contract negotiated with TCC following the oil spill planted the first seed of a promising partnership between Alyeska and Chugach.