Alaska News

Shell's record shows protecting environment a top priority

It's unfortunate Dan Strickland's commentary in the Daily News chose to use the Exxon Valdez marine transport environmental tragedy to make his case against oil and gas leasing in the North Aleutian Basin. While it's clear Mr. Strickland is passionate to keep the region off-limits to industry, the safety record of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) exploration and production is vastly better than marine transport.

U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) reports and supporting data indicate that the North Aleutian Basin is considered a gas play and that tankers will not be considered for the region. Industry has covered a distance of over 75,000 miles collecting seismic data in the region during the 1970s and early 1980s and there has been no known negative impact on marine mammals, the environment or fish. Because Mr. Strickland specifically mentioned Shell, I feel it important to respond. First, Mr. Strickland predicted Shell would "claim" the ability to manage any discharge accident at sea. It would be foolish to make such a statement, so we have not.

That said, in anticipation of drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Shell has assembled on-site spill response vessels, collection tankers, skimmers, booms, icebreakers and helicopters that will be in operational readiness from the moment we are able to start drilling. This specially designed oil spill response fleet is unprecedented and indicative of the effort and technology we bring to Alaska.

But oil spill response begins with prevention -- an area of expertise we dedicate an enormous amount of time and resources to. There hasn't been a significant spill from a platform in the U.S. in nearly 30 years, and there's never been a significant oil spill from a blowout in the Alaska or Canadian Arctic.

That's not luck.

The best practices and technology we bring to our offshore work make Shell a preferred operator around the world. Every OCS oil and gas well has an underwater shut-in valve that works to minimize environmental damage from oil spills, such as from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Following Hurricane Katrina, Shell platforms were responsible for just over 325 barrels of discharge -- a far cry from the 700,000 gallons Mr. Strickland alluded to. No environmental damage occurred in federal waters after sustained 175 mph winds ripped through the heart of the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production ("a warm breeze" according to Mr. Strickland).

While it's tempting to address Mr. Strickland's arguments line by line, we value hearing his points and his passion for the Bristol Bay region. We recognize the importance of the exchange of ideas and dialogue that should take place before leasing and exploration takes place in the North Aleutian Basin. That's happening now as the MMS works toward completion of an Environmental Impact Statement that will allow for public comments over several years. Only after that process is complete would a lease sale take place -- and it very well may not.

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Mr. Strickland and I are already aligned on some issues. Sound science should drive any decisions to lease in the North Aleutian Basin. We also agree the grounding of the Selendang Ayu in 2004 was a wake-up call that vessel traffic in the region requires a system in place to clean up oil spills from vessels. If industry does enter the region, it is essential they bring with them the oil spill response equipment and accompanying jobs that currently do not exist.

Fisheries and the oil industry have proved time and time again they can co-exist. Extensive studies of fisheries within oil and gas development areas have not shown negative impact on fish populations or quality from industry activity. In fact, a recent Environmental Protection Agency study of fish and shellfish in Cook Inlet determined the seafood was "as clean and wholesome as any that EPA has ever tested," after 40 years of oil and gas production.

It's possible the North Aleutian Basin may one day claim a similar story -- so long as all stakeholders understand the others' needs, and that constant dialogue and mutual respect is maintained. I look forward to the ongoing conversation.

Pete Slaiby is general manager for Shell Alaska.

By PETE SLAIBY

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