A recent report from the Government Accountability Office is urging significant updates to the operations of the Joint Pipeline Office, the group responsible for overseeing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline system.
Established following the Exxon Valdez oil spill over three decades ago, the office was created to ensure the safety of the pipeline and the Valdez Marine Terminal, the facility where North Slope oil is loaded onto tankers.
Brooke Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, emphasized the importance of preventing further oil spills and disasters.
“It all comes down to preventing another spill, another disaster, like the Exxon Valdez,” she stated.
The report highlights that as interest in harnessing America’s energy potential grows, safety must be a priority in the development process in Alaska.
Released last week, the report points out that the Joint Pipeline Office has gradually reduced its safety oversight measures over time.
Recommendations from the report include documenting shared goals among participating agencies, clarifying each agency’s responsibilities, and identifying potential lapses in safety oversight.
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council plays a vital role as a federally mandated citizen oversight group, offering advice on safety protocols at the marine terminal in Valdez.
The council previously commissioned a separate report revealing numerous safety issues at the terminal, which arose after an incident involving damaged tank vents.
In response to these concerns, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan sought the federal report.
While the Joint Pipeline Office has collaborated on spill drills and inspections, the report notes a significant reduction in oversight activities, including field inspections.
Additionally, it highlights that the office has not released public reports for most of the last two decades since closing its physical office, a lack of communication that diminishes public access to crucial information.
“When those types of communications then cease, that’s less transparency, less access to information that the public has,” Taylor underscored.
The report also points out that over the past 30 years, the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved in the joint office have shifted.
This lack of clear delineation can create oversight gaps, particularly at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
A notable incident occurred when a fire broke out in 2023 near one of the terminal’s tanks while cleaning operations were underway.
The report noted that no single agency was accountable for overseeing such incidents, highlighting a critical concern within the regulatory framework.
Taylor remarked that an independent review could have shed light on what caused the fire and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“There’s still questions we have around that incident, and without a regulatory body, it’s limited in what we can really learn from it,” she stated.
While the council appreciated the report’s recommendations to clarify the goals and responsibilities of the joint office, they feel it inadequately captured the extent of the issues plaguing the oversight of the pipeline system.
“There have been, on multiple levels, for many years now, reductions in staffing and budget and resources that are potentially leading to gaps in oversight at this point,” Taylor explained.
The council remains committed to collaborating with government officials, regulatory agencies, and industry representatives to tackle these oversight gaps and enhance safety measures.
Michelle Egan, a spokeswoman for Alyeska Pipeline, conveyed the company’s acknowledgment of the report and its commitment to working with regulators to maintain safety standards for workers and operations.
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