Anchorage, AK -- April 20, 1996. At approximately 5:00 p.m., an Alyeska crew performing a routine inspection at pipeline milepost 594 of the trans-Alaska pipeline, found crude oil at the bottom of a vertical access culvert. Vertical access culverts are similar to manholes, and are used to allow access to pipeline valves and instrumentation. Approximately 100 gallons have been removed from the location. No crude oil is visible on the ground surface, and the total amount of crude oil leaked is unknown at this time.

There appears to be a slow seepage into the bottom of the vertical access culvert. Crews were immediately mobilized to the scene, and will begin to excavate the site early tomorrow morning. The pipeline is buried approximately 16 feet below the ground surface in this area.

Oil flowing through the trans-Alaska pipeline has been slowed from about 1.5 million barrels a day to 700,000 barrels a day.

The location 90 miles north of Glennallen.

The Joint Pipeline Office (JPO) and all other required notifications have been made. The JPO is monitoring the response.

Alyeska will release more information as it becomes available.