Trans-Alaska pipeline

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5788577

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline system transports nearly 25 percent of the nation's domestically produced crude oil. Since operations began in 1977, the system has delivered over 8 billion barrels of oil to Port Veldez for shipment. This paper reports that concerns have been raised about whether the system is meeting special engineering design and operations requirements imposed by federal and state regulators. GAO found that the five principal federal and state regulatory agencies have not pursued a systematic, disciplined, and coordinated approach to regulating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Instead, these agencies have relied on the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, which runs the system, to police itself. It was only after the Exxon Valdez spill and the discovery of corrosion that the regulators began to reevaluate their roles and focus on issues such as whether Alyeska's operating and maintenance procedures meet the pipelines, special engineering design and operating requirements, or whether Alyeska can adequately respond to a large oil spill. In January 1990, the regulators established a joint office to provide more effective oversight of the system. GAO believes that central leadership and a secured funding sources may help ensure that this office provides adequate oversight.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
• OSTI ID: 5788577
• Report Number(s): GAO/RCED-91-89
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
42 ENGINEERING
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ALASKA OIL PIPELINE
DESIGN
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
PETROLEUM
TRANSPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
MAINTENANCE
PLANNING
SAFETY STANDARDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
PIPELINES
STANDARDS
022000* - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage
420205 - Engineering- Transport & Storage Facilities- (1980-)
021000 - Petroleum- Legislation & Regulations
294002 - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum