Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Citizens' Oversight
The CRWP is advocating for citizens' oversight of the TAPS to protect the Copper River's salmon spawning tributaries.
**Click here to visit our new TAPS stakeholder resource site**
One of the most prominent features in the Copper River watershed landscape is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). TAPS crosses five major tributaries to the Copper, all of which are salmon spawning rivers. Residents of this region fear a spill from a pipeline breach could quickly end up in the main stem of the Copper River and damage spawning and migratory habitat of the world-famous Copper River salmon. “We eat fish, we don’t eat money” said Ray Neely, Alaska Native, Council Member, Gulkana Village Council (April 21, 2006 stakeholder meeting).
Based on our experience attempting to reduce the risks posed by TAPS for the Copper River watershed, the CRWP and several partners are working to create a prototype model of citizens’ oversight for the entire Trans-Alaska Pipeline System by focusing initially on the lower fifth of the pipeline that traverses the Copper River drainage.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System crossing the Gulkana River, BLM photo
The CRWP prepared a GIS illustration of a hypothetical spill scenario on the Tazlina River to make a critical point: even under perfect weather conditions allowing for timely spill response, oil will by then have passed designated containment sites and entered the main stem of the Copper River, traveling 18 river miles downstream. Alyeska’s estimated response time for Containment Site 10-21 and 10 – 20 on the Tazlina River is just over six hours.
Download our GIS spill scenario map here.
Download GIS map of Copper River Environmental Sensitive Areas here.
Distances between river pipeline crossings and the Copper River in Region 5 are:
➢ Gulkana River: 33 river miles
➢ Tazlina River: 5.1 river miles
➢ Klutina River: 1.5 river miles
➢ Tonsina River: 18.8 river miles
➢ Little Tonsina River: 22.3 river miles
No containment site exists for the Copper River, yet current response times indicate that in several locations oil will likely reach the Copper River before Initial Response Teams arrive at existing containment sites.
Download our Citizens' Oversight white paper here.
Please click here to visit our new TAPS stakeholder resource site
Resolutions passed in support of citizen oversight for TAPS:
The Copper River Watershed Project has been working with other stakeholder groups along the TAPS corridor to convene resources and identify opportunities for engaging citizens in oversight efforts. The following is a list of organizations who have passed formal resolutions in support of independent citizen oversight.
For information on how your group can pass a resolution in support of citizen oversight of TAPS, contact Kate Alexander at CRWP. Don't forget to visit our Resource and Summary of Activities page for more materials on TAPS and citizen oversight.
- Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association Resolution in support of a citizen oversight council.
- Copper Country Alliance Resolution in support of a citizen oversight council.
- Copper River Watershed Project Resolution in support of a citizen oversight council.
- Cordova District Fishermen United Resolution in support of a citizen oversight council.
- Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association in support of a citizen oversight council.
- The Native Village of Eyak. Contact Kate Alexander at CRWP for a copy of this resolution.
