May 21, 2015—Kenai, Alaska—Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC) is inviting the public to a 25th Anniversary celebration and Grand Opening Reception for its Coastal Impressions Exhibit, on May 28, 2015, hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Coastal Impressions: A Photographic Journey along Alaska’s Gulf Coast, is an exhibit of images selected from tens of thousands of digital photographs obtained during aerial surveys in the Gulf of Alaska. The exhibit presents the diverse natural history and spectacular scenery of areas both remote and inaccessible to many. This exhibit is sponsored by CIRCAC and developed in partnership with NOAA Fisheries, AFSC Auke Bay Laboratories and the Alaska ShoreZone program, which, through its work imaging the Gulf Coast, has developed an incredible archive of high resolution photos. The exhibit will be on display at the Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center through the summer and closes in mid-September.

“This event marks the first time the Coastal Impressions Exhibit will go on display in Kenai, and we’re grateful to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center for hosting not only this spectacular exhibit, but for granting us the opportunity to celebrate our 25th Anniversary during the Grand Opening,” said CIRCAC Executive Director Mike Munger. “It’s been our privilege to represent Cook Inlet’s citizens for 25 years, and this event is for everyone.”

The Opening Reception/CIRCAC 25th Anniversary Celebration is from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, May 28, with music and refreshments, and brief welcoming remarks at 7pm, followed by a description of the exhibit.

Cook Inlet RCAC is a Federally-mandated citizens’ organization, formed under the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90) whose mission is to represent the citizens of Cook Inlet in promoting environmentally safe marine transportation and oil facility operations in Cook Inlet. In pursuing this mandate, the Council strives to help protect the environment, fisheries, economic vitality, and recreational interests of Cook Inlet through engaging in environmental research and monitoring, and oil spill prevention and contingency planning.

For more information about this announcement, or the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council and its programs, contact: Lynda Giguere, Director of Public Outreach 907-398- 6205 lyndagiguere@circac.org www.circac.org