DGC issues final ruling on TAPS right of way renewal

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The Alaska Division of Governmental Coordination has found that renewal of the trans-Alaska pipeline right of way is consistent with the Alaska Coastal Management Program.

A final consistency determination, issued Sept. 5 by project review coordinator Kaye Laughlin, covers 135 miles of the trans-Alaska pipeline corridor in two coastal districts: 110 miles in the North Slope Borough coastal district starting at Pump Station No. 1 and 25 miles at the southern end outside the perimeter of the Valdez Marine Terminal in the Valdez Coastal Resource District. The pipeline transportation corridor was designed prior to the establishment of the ACMP and the NSB and Valdez coastal resource districts.

Laughlin said the review was of the existing rights-of-way grant and lease and does not encompass changes to the existing rights of way, new developments or future activities.

DGC’s “final consistency determination is a final administrative decision for purposes of Alaska Appellate Rules… Any appeal from this decision to the superior court must be made within 30 days of the date of this determination,” she said.