Shepard Point
Oil Spill Response Facility

Home / Projects / Shepard Point Oil Spill Response Facility 

At a Glance

The Shepard Point Tribal Transportation Oil Spill Response and Marine Casualty Facility is a new, strategically located response center in Cordova designed to strengthen regional oil spill preparedness and improve rapid response capability across Prince William Sound and the Copper River Basin. 

Broke ground in 2023 through a partnership between Chugach Alaska Corporation, the Native Village of Eyak, and The Eyak Corporation, and is anticipated to be complete by 2026 

Completes the final facility requirement under the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Settlement Consent Decree, which calls for three strategically placed response centers around Prince William Sound.

Site selection was informed by a comprehensive oceanic and meteorological study confirming Shepard Point as the optimal location based on tides, currents, sea-level trends, winds, waves, and tsunami exposure.

Why it matters 

Prince William Sound is a vital ecosystem and economic engine for Alaska. This facility helps close a critical preparedness gap by improving response coverage for the eastern half of Prince William Sound and the Copper River Basin. It also supports the protection of subsistence resources and commercial fishing livelihoods that sustain Alaska Native and local communities. 

Visit the website

What the Facility Includes 

  • A deep-water, all-tide dock to support rapid marine access in varying conditions. 
  • Uplands infrastructure for staging, equipment storage, and response operations. 
  • A connecting road to Cordova’s all-weather airport to accelerate mobilization of personnel and resources. 

Built for Speed & Reliability 

By combining marine access with direct connectivity to the regional airport, the Shepard Point facility is designed to reduce response time, improve coordination, and enable faster deployment when every hour matters. 

Community & Regional Benefits 

In addition to strengthening spill response capability, the project supports economic opportunity in Cordova and the region, while reinforcing long-term stewardship of the waters and fisheries that communities depend on.