Beaufort Sea

Dear U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski(Alaska):

The following was most recently released through the news-media:

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said a major oil spill in the Arctic would threaten to end production in the region, production that is already happening off the coasts of most far northern countries. Murkowski told an East Coast conference early Tuesday the United States should strive to be the "leader in offshore energy development" to pursue "twin goals" of environmental protection and domestic energy security. I think we all know there can be no mistakes along the way — we've got one chance to get it right, she told a Center for Strategic and International Studies audience. Murkowski said the absence of "coherent" implementation of national offshore development policy, coupled with the regulatory uncertainty and threat of litigation allowed by a blurry regulatory web, injures the investment climate needed to attract infrastructure to let agencies prepare for a busy region. She said U.S. production of Arctic oil, including an estimated 24 billion barrels beneath the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, and natural gas is crucial to the country's economic interests and for responsible development in the broader Arctic region. Murkowski's speech was part of a conference examining key issues impacted by last year's Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Arctic is believed to hold around 13 percent of the world's untapped oil, with the northern Alaska basin representing a significant portion.

Feedback:

With respect to your opinion and or views on this subject and for the record, maybe the “we've got one chance to get it right” has already been blown in Alaska! Not an all out blow-out, but there has already come the opportunity to oversee, inspect then gage what can be expected unless stricter control and oversight is called for in efforts to guarantee to the American public that offshore oil development will be orchestrated in such a responsible manner that indeed is focused for success with a “twin goals” approach in mind, namely environmental protection and domestic energy security - just like you have suggested in the above captive news release. So I urge you and your colleagues engaged in the topic of Arctic oil development to request and study the report titled, “Alaska's Deadliest Sin”, a “public domain” document available from the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission - which I authored while employed by Pioneer Natural Resources at its Oooguruk Production facility located offshore in the Colville River Delta, gateway to the Beaufort Sea. What I had witnessed and documented over 2-years on the job was gross mismanagement along with an irresponsible behavior mentality by the 1^st Independent to break into the lucrative crude oil energy business challenging the North Slope of Alaska. The report is critical upon PNR along with the state of Alaska and goes to show that the state regulators can not be trusted to make sure development, if allowed to go forward, moves along to the point that it does not impact the state's environmental rating towards the negative. It is evident from my perspective that the state of Alaska bureaucrats will turn an eye to get the Independents to go where other responsible oil companies have decided “NOT” to go in pursuit of the “Black Gold”, wherein the state allows for preferential economic breaks and it appears “oversight” breaks for these newcomers - the Independents - which will inevitably harm the environment if the status quo goes on unchecked - if such a mentality continues as it appears to be the case with PNR's Oooguruk project. And it is well known that ENI, the 2^nd Independent to brave Alaska's Northern coast for both on-shore and off-shore energy oil exploration and exploitation, the Nikaitchuq project has had its fair share of problems – blowing crude oil out a safety flare stack designed only for gas and a pipeline leak detection system that does not work as required and possible polar bear denning harassment. It is noted that ENI's Nikaitchuq project is in close proximity to PNR's Oooguruk development project, so it appears that we have before us an area of development by and through the Independents that could be used as the litmus test, to study how the newcomers score with respect to environmental stewardship. It appears that the Independents might be making advancements in the Arctic ahead of the major oil companies, because of preferential treatment – advancements both onshore the Beaufort Sea coast and offshore the Beaufort open waters. So far and early on the Independents' career here in Alaska, with respect to environmental awareness and stewardship, it doesn't look so promising. A relevant case in point with respect to PNR's Oooguruk Operation is worth entry this correspondence: The largest “illegal” dumping on record to date for Alaska's North Slope occurred through PNR in 2009, when 49,000 gallons of contaminated glycol was “sham” recycled down-hole without a permit, the latter permit required by the AOGCC. It was a PNR management decision, not an accident or equipment malfunction, to get rid of the contaminated fluids as there appeared no other option then to hire an expert hazardous waste contractor, which would have been a costly venture. The Independents have not deep pockets like the majors working the Alaska oil scene up north, so cutting corners will occur if left unchecked. So the PNR operations was required to perform an “illegal” operation. When I first brought this illegal dumping to the attention of authorities, it was denied. When more evidence surfaced, PNR was slapped a $10,000 fine, no where near a deterrent and a joke in comparison to what the major oil companies have been subject too for much smaller attacks upon the environment, with respect to fines to deter future irresponsible behavior. And when the regulators realized they had let down their guard and let down the state in efforts to make sure things like this cannot and will not happen, they amended PNR's permit, to allow for glycol injections, after the fact. Like an attempt to soften the blow of lack of oversight. All attempts to engage the EPA and or the Department of Justice to investigate this matter has gone without merit, not even a feedback correspondence explaining matters of jurisdiction or credible reasons to not investigate this matter, my concern. This appears to paint a bleak picture with respect to “oversight”, not only upon state oversight dereliction, but also a problem on the Federal side. Bottom-line, for PNR to perform this act without a permit, it is a crime, it is illegal according to Alaska statutes and PNR should have been held deterrent-accountable for the action upon the “sham” and held accountable on the fact that when given the last clear chance to alert the authorities about this activity, instead of honesty, it was an attempt to hide the truth at the same time an attempt to slam the whistle-blower. It seems like deja vu all over again, “Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Covert Operations”, wherein whistle-blowers were targeted. So there exists evidence in and around the Beaufort that should be studied to analyze what is already going wrong with offshore oil development on Alaska's northern coast with the introduction of a new breed, the Independents, wherein small marginal fields are being developed by what appears to be lack of oversight along with tax incentives, all at post haste speed, in efforts to fill the TAPS system. Once again, if we can't get it right here, it would never get done right, especially when further away offshore in a place that is very difficult to engage development activities all the time correctly along with proper oversight not afraid to perform as required to make sure we indeed do it right, all for America's energy security. Thanks....Concerned American/Experienced North Slope Oil Field Worker.