CRWP joins coalition dedicated to “Keeping the oil in the pipe”

CO TAPS (Citizen Oversight of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System) is a coalition of citizens and organizations, including the Copper River Watershed Project, committed to keeping the oil in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) and out of our waterways and lands.

Over the 35 years of TAPS’ operation, there have been a number of serious incidents along the pipeline and the pipeline owners have been fined millions of dollars for numerous violations. CO TAPS' most pressing concerns with the pipeline include: corrosion problems, wax and ice buildup in the pipe, deferred maintenance, inadequate leak detection systems, inadequate spill response planning, and seismic and geologic hazards. Completed in 1977, the pipeline was only built to last 30 years. Now, the lease and right of way have been renewed through 2034.

TAPS crosses over 800 rivers and streams between Prudhoe Bay and Valdez. A breach in the line at or near a river crossing could result in oil reaching fish streams or rivers, and clean up in remote areas would be an enormous challenge.

For more information on what you can do to help this effort, please go to: http://akpipelinesafety.org/whatcanyoudo.

And be sure to “Like” CO TAPS on Facebook.