ANCHORAGE, AK -- April 19, 1996 -- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company reported today that maintenance and cleaning will be performed on isolation flanges on seven out of 16 crude oil loading arms at the Valdez Marine Terminal to reduce electrical resistance. The isolation flange is an electrical insulation barrier that prevents electrical current flow between the loading arm and tanker during oil loading. During an annual inspection the isolation flanges on these loading arms did not meet the Alyeska standards. The isolation flanges are one of several systems used to minimize current flows between the berth and the tanker.

Loading operations have not been significantly impacted. The isolation flanges on the loading arms will be cleaned and re-inspected.

The Joint Pipeline Office has been notified.