Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Citizens' Oversight

One of the most prominent features in the Copper River watershed landscape is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).  TAPS crosses four 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.

Action for Engaging Citizens in TAPS Oversight

CRWP worked with Cascadia Wildlands to host a kick-off workshop in Valdez, March 10-11, 2009, at the Valdez Civic & Convention Center. 

Workshop participants met over the course of two days to develop a list of stakeholder concerns regarding TAPS, strategies for engaging citizens in TAPS oversight, and a list of ACTION steps to be taken to engage citizens in the oversight of TAPS.

The following presentations were also included in the workshop:

• Gabe Scott, Cascadia Wildlands Project, review of Alyeska Contingency Plan provisions for the Copper River drainage;
• Dan Gilson, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council, review of successes of PWS RCAC;
  
• Richard Fineberg, Fineberg Research, review of maintenance and safety concerns for TAPS;
  
• Peter VanTuyn, Legal framework for citizen oversight.

Recordings of these presentations are available by contacting Kristin Smith at the Copper River Watershed Project office (crwp@copperriver.org, 907-424-3334).  Recordings will be made available on this website in the future.  Please check back!

Following you will find notes from the workshop, as well as background materials on TAPS and Citizen Oversight.  Click on the name of the documents you want to download to your computer and downloading should automatically begin. 

Workshop Materials:

• Scoping document for 2009 TAPS Stakeholder Workshop
• March, 2009 TAPS Stakeholder Workshop Press Release
  
• Updated Meeting Goals and Agenda
  
• DRAFT of March, 2009 workshop notes
  

Citizen Oversight Materials:

• Comparison table of Citizen Oversight Models
• Oil Pollution Act of 1990--link to a website that includes OPA90, the federal legislation resulting in citizen oversight.
• Prince William Sound Regional Citizen's Advisory Council white paper on citizen oversight
• Models of Public Oversight of Government and Industry--article by Richard Steiner
• Outreach Poster in support of TAPS Citizen Oversight.  This poster is designed to be printed 36 x 42 inches.  For a high resolution file of this poster, please contact Kate at CRWP.
  

Resolutions passed in support of citizen oversight for TAPS:

• 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.
  

For information on how your group can pass a resolution in support of citizen oversight of TAPS, contact Kate Alexander at 424-3334, or kate@copperriver.org.

TAPS materials:

• "Risk Assessment of Alaska Oil Infrastructure Called Flawed"- (website) Anchorage Daily News article on Alaska Risk Assessment, a state-led effort to assess risks associated with Alaska's oil and gas infrastructure. 
• Peer Review report of Alaska Risk Assessment conducted by the Transportation research Board of The National Academies--download a copy here.  Click here to link to project site for Alaska Risk Assessment. 
  
• Fineberg Research --this website includes the comprehensive work of Richard Fineberg, including in-depth reporting on TAPS.
• Opinion Paper on TAPS by James Brady, North Cape Fisheries Consulting--expert opinion on likely impacts of a spill into the Copper River.
  
• "Oil & Water"--(website) Anchorage Press coverage of Cordovans' challenge to TAPS oil spill contingency plan.
  

• Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council--website that outlines the restoration and research funded by the Council since the 1989 oil spill.  Also includes information about the history of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. 
  
• The Whole Truth--website highlighting economic impacts to commercial fisherman as a result of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Also includes information about the history of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.