Murkowski calls for safety review of trans-Alaska pipeline

The call by the Alaska Republican follows a recent meeting with Kevin Hostler, outgoing president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which runs the pipeline and Valdez tanker port. State Rep. David Guttenberg agrees with the need for confidence in the running of the aging pipeline, but he said it will only come with an outside review.

Guttenberg, a Fairbanks Democrat, has criticized recent Alyeska job transfers from Fairbanks, claiming they're an example of cost-cutting measures that could take the company down a dangerous path.

Alyeska spokeswoman Michelle Egan said Monday a third party will conduct a review and that Alyeska had been planning to do one anyway in light of the power outage that resulted in a 210,000-gallon contained oil spill in May at a pump station near Delta Junction.

With the exception of isolated incidents, such as the nearly 80-hour shutdown of the pipeline in May after the power failure and spill, Alyeska's overall safety record "demonstrates we do take good care of the pipeline," Egan said.

Murkowski wants the review to look at a range of maintenance issues, including leak detection, power generation and backup, and relief tank capacity. Spokesman Robert Dillon knew of no set timeline for the review to be completed but said Murkowski expects it "sooner rather than later."

London-based oil giant BP is the largest single owner of Alyeska and the pipeline, which carries oil from the North Slope to Valdez. Other pipeline owners include Conoco Phillips, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries and Chevron.

Alyeska's management has come under recent scrutiny, with U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., citing an internal report that he said found widespread employee dissatisfaction with the pipeline's operation and raised serious concerns with the management culture at Alyeska.

The Joint Pipeline Office, which represents state and federal regulators of the line, said it was briefed on the survey. In a letter this month to Guttenberg, in which it largely defended Alyeska and praised its safety record as having been "very good," the JPO said it was discouraged by survey results indicating "a decline in the number of employees who are willing to report concerns due to fear of harassment or retaliation."

"Separate from the survey, the JPO has received independent complaints regarding lack of complete drawings, procedures and maintenance tasks," the letter signed by agency officials said.

Earlier this month, Egan acknowledged the survey found "some issues about people's comfort level, raising issues beyond their supervisors." She said Alyeska was working to improve communication.