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Key Alaskan Pipelines Suffer from Lack of Oversight
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ShareAugust 09, 2006 1:13 PM
An investigation by ABCNews.com has found there are no state or federal regulations that require BP Oil, or any other company, to monitor or protect against corrosion along key pipelines at the nation's largest oil field.
Earlier this week, the discovery of severely corroded pipeline forced the shutdown of BP's operations at Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. The lines carry eight percent of the domestic crude oil production.
The shutdown has prompted members of Congress to call for more federal oversight.
"The Department of Transportation needs to be given clear legal authority to implement minimum maintenance standards so these shutdowns can be avoided," said Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member on the House Energy and Commerce committee.
Alaskan officials say that while BP is not required to protect against corrosion for aboveground pipelines, it is required to protect underground flow lines. A state-commissioned review of BP's practices in 2004 found that the corrosion program for those lines is "effective and exceeds common industry practice."
Lydia Miner, an official with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, says the agency now finds it hard to agree with that statement.
August 9, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (7)
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What? Are you telling me that American corporations would sacrifice our environment for their own profit? Uncle George and the rest of the politicians in Washington assure us that we can trust these businesses.
It costs money to assure safety. If our government, which in a democracy is us, doesn't require a degree of safety, it won't happen.
Posted by: Boo Man | Aug 9, 2006 2:27:00 PM
The BP pipeline problem coincides with the attitude of most companies, sensing the direction of the economy. "Get it while you can", Show me the money", "We'll worry about that later, but for now we're in the money". I think you will find this attitude with most large companies cutting corners and expenses, not maintaining equipment. The average income for a family to live comfortably in New York is 80,000. Where is this money coming from.?? We don't produce anything and we're outsourcing the rest. It's going to be slim pickings.
Posted by: FlimFlamMan | Aug 9, 2006 3:30:57 PM
I wonder how long it will be before the oil companies start to sabotage there own refineries If there not already to raise prices more? This is really suspicious to me.
Posted by: Richard | Aug 9, 2006 9:22:59 PM
I don't recall which media reported the fact that 8% of the US oil comes from this BP Pipeline. That's not quite true.........it's more like 0% of US oil production comes from these lines. This oil has such high impurity contents most of the US refiners won't touch it...that's why it's shipped across the pond to let the other guys worry about how bad it is.
Posted by: dreek | Aug 10, 2006 12:24:22 PM
Boycott BP (and other companies that will inevitably do the same thing). The only thing these companies know is their bottom line. I plan to boycott.
Posted by: karen | Aug 10, 2006 6:23:32 PM
No wonder oil companies' profits are so high! I'd be rich too if my company spent virtually nothing on maintenance!
Posted by: mark | Aug 11, 2006 11:05:57 AM
In both articles reported today, the numbers are incorrect, as I recall.
8 to 10 percent of Alaska crude is for US consumption. Not that Alaska crude is 8 percent of US consumption.
Approximately 90 percent of Alaska crude is SOLD to Asia !!
Our President and the oil companies have publically told untruths when they say that we must explore the remainder of the Alaska wilderness for oil to end our dependancy on foreign oil. No where, do they have a plan to deliver that Alaska oil to your home next winter, or any winter.
Thnaks.
Posted by: Dave | Aug 11, 2006 12:25:45 PM
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