Interior, Alyeska, Native leaders renew hiring pact

Petroleum News Staff

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton, officials of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. — the consortium which operates the trans-Alaska pipeline — and Native leaders signed a renewal Oct. 15 in Anchorage of the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement. The utilization agreement was mandated by the Agreement and Grant of Right of Way for the trans-Alaska Pipeline which specifies details of pipeline construction and operation. That agreement was made in 1974 and renewed in January 2003for an additional 30 years. The renewal of the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement is the fourth since 1995.

“Among other things, this renewal will ensure continued employment and even better training programs for the nearly 450 Alaska Natives who currently work on the pipeline,” Norton said.

As part of the renewal, Alyeska agreed to provide funding for programs designed to employ, train and advance Alaska Native employees on the trans-Alaska pipeline, while continuing efforts to recruit and retain qualified Native candidates.

The company will also continue to award $750,000 in scholarships each year and set up an intern program for entry-level Native employees. Alyeska has provided scholarships to more than 1,000 Native students since 1996.

Currently 20 percent of trans-Alaska pipeline workers, 447, are Alaska Natives, compared to 172, 8 percent, in 1995.