Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman, House Press Secretary (907) 258-8164
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Press Secretary (907) 258-8187
Anchorage Legislative Information Office
Anchorage, AK 99501
web site = http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Alaska Legislative Leaders Denounce Attack on Pipeline

For Immediate Release: June 11, 1997 Contact: Ken Freeman (907) 258-8164

ANCHORAGE - Highlighting the sound environmental record of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the prosperity responsible oil development has brought to the State of Alaska and America, Alaska Legislative Leaders Wednesday challenged an attack against the record of the pipeline by the Alaska Wilderness League at a press conference that will be held Thursday morning in Washington D.C.

"For twenty years the Trans-Alaska Pipeline fueled the lifeblood of Alaska's economy. Over the years, Alyeska Pipeline Services Company, the pipeline service contractor, has closely monitored the efficiency and safety of the pipeline. Millions of dollars have been spent by the owner companies to ensure the most efficient and technologically advanced updates to the pipeline. Safety and protection, not only of the environment, but also of the pipeline and the pipeline people, are the paramount philosophy underlying this operation," said Alaska State House Speaker Gail Phillips.

Speaker Phillips noted that on an annual basis, delegations of legislators inspect and review Alyeska's plans for monitoring the safety and maintenance programs in place.

"This pipeline is one of the world's technological wonders. It has safely carried about 25% of the nation's daily production of oil for the past twenty years without major incidents or problems," said Alaska State Senate President Mike Miller.

"Richard Fineberg's (Alaska Wilderness League) attack on the Pipeline is unwarranted and unfounded. His report on the pipeline is incorrect and does not have the support of anyone in Alaska except for the extreme environmental fringe. Many do not recognize Mr. Fineberg as an authority on the economic and environmental aspects of oil development in Alaska," said Speaker Phillips.

"His report, submitted to the regional Valdez spill response organization was not even considered by their Board for action," said Phillips.

"The insinuation that there has been ecological destruction associated with the pipleine is an absolute falsehood! Alaskans would not tolerate any kind of environmental degradation," said Senator Miller.

Miller noted just the opposite has occurred. Miller said Alyeska Pipeline Company has been a responsible, corporate partner in Alaska.

"The people of Alaska are intimately involved and aware of what goes on with the Pipeline and the Legislature routinely monitors the safety records of the Pipeline," said Miller.

Phillips and Miller said as Legislative leaders they were very concerned with this blatantly false attack on the Pipeline and want to put on the record the "other side of the story."

"Technological advances made over the life-time of oil production on the North Slope and operations of the pipeline clearly demonstrates that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge can be developed in an environmentally responsible manner," said Phillips.

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