ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, April 21, 1996 1:00 P.M. -- Oil was found in a flow meter vault 60 feet north of Check Valve (CV) 92 at approximately 5 PM on April 20 during a routine inspection. There are indications of oil also 20 feet north of CV 92. There are no indications of oil south of CV 92. The precise source of the leak and the leak rate are unknown at this time.

No threat to public health or safety has been identified. Oil flow in the pipeline has been cut back from about 1.5 million barrels per day to less than 800 thousand barrels per day as an initial precaution to reduce the pressure at the leak location.

CV 92 is located near pipeline milepost 594 on a plateau about 90 miles north of Glennallen. On each side of the plateau, about 1/4 mile away are two water bodies: Phelan Creek and Delta River. Both the creek and the river are frozen.

RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT

Alyeska is conducting a safe, effective, and rapid response by investigating this incident to find the root cause and following up in a manner consistent with the company’s Quality Program.

Last night, work teams and surveyors were sent to the site, and an excavation plan was developed. The top priorities of the plan are (1) safety; (2) locating the leading edge of the oil-contaminated soil; (3) establishing a contaminated soil stockpile site; (4) developing a plan to deal with any water that might be encountered with excavating; (5) identify the source of the leak and develop a repair plan; and (6) establishing a staging area.

During the night, site preparation work was completed. The line was surveyed early in the morning, and excavation commenced at 8 AM. Efforts are focusing on finding the leading edge of the oil and preparing to excavate the area around CV 92.

There are four Alyeska Task Forces working at the site: (1) those dedicated to exposing the check valve; (2) those working to find the leading edge of the oil; (3) those establishing a contaminated soil site; and (4) those establishing a decontamination site.

The Incident Command Center was established at Pump Station 10 when the contaminated soil was discovered. The Joint Pipeline Office has been monitoring the response from Anchorage, in coordination with Alyeska personnel. Representatives of the State and Federal governments have sent representatives to Pump Station 10 to participate in the Incident Command team.

In all, there are about 80 Alyeska and contractor personnel working two shifts at the site in response to the incident, with 60-80 providing support as required in Fairbanks and Anchorage. The weather is good. Alyeska will provide an update this afternoon.