EIS required for pipeline renewal

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management will require an environmental impact statement for the right-of-way renewal for the trans-Alaska pipeline.

BLM Alaska State Director Fran Cherry said Aug. 2 that BLM has begun evaluating the steps that the federal government would take to renew the trans-Alaska pipeline system right-of-way. The original 30-year right-of-way will expire in January 2004.

"We are awaiting a letter of intent to renew the right-of-way from the TAPS-owner companies," Cherry said. "One critical decision that can be made before we receive the letter is what level of environmental analysis we will conduct, an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.

"Given the significance of the TAPS, we have determined that the renewal is of sufficient public interest and complexity to require an environmental impact statement."

"As we develop the EIS, we will ensure that the public has ample opportunities to participate in the EIS," Cherry said.

The 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline is operated by Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. for the seven owner companies: BP-Amoco, ARCO, Exxon, Mobil Alaska, Amerada Hess, Phillips Alaska and Unocal. The right-of-way is jointly managed by the state of Alaska and the federal government.