EPA v. TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE SYSTEM PUMP STATION 1

Case summary

U.S. EPA News Brief, January 11, 2011 (Seattle, Wa.) In order to protect the environment, water quality and wildlife habitat near Alaska’s North Slope, today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The order requires a timely investigation and response to the recent oil leak at Pump Station 1 of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. The order specifies steps that Alyeska must take to comply with federal environmental laws as it responds to the leak and restarts the pipeline. Under the order, the company will implement the pipeline Restart Plan approved by the Unified Command and take actions to prevent oil spills to the environment during the start up. The restart plan requires Alyeska to increase its spill surveillance program along the full length of the 800-mile long pipeline during start up and to demonstrate that it is prepared to report and respond immediately to any spills that do occur. “This order directs Alyeska to take all possible steps for a safe start up of the pipeline that protects water quality and the fragile North Slope environment,” said Dennis McLerran, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Northwest and Alaska. McLerran will be in Alaska starting on Wednesday to oversee first-hand the operations at the Incident Command Center in Fairbanks.

Defendants (1)

• Alyeska Pipeline Service CompanyNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY - TAPS PUMP STATION 1

  4.5 MILES S OF PRUDHOE BAY NEAR DEADHORSE, DEADHORSE, AK, 99734

  Registry ID: 110041963266

Statutes cited

• CWA 311C2/311E — Emergency Powers Oil Imminent & Substantial Endangerment

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE SYSTEM PUMP STATION 1 - UNILATERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER FOR REMOVAL ACTIVITIESentered 2011-01-11

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2011-01-11Final Order Issued
• 2011-01-18Enforcement Action Data Entered