ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 21, 1996, 6 P.M. -- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company reports that detailed records exist of an April 10, 1996 inspection at the vertical access culvert at mIlepost 594. No oil was present in the culvert at the time of the inspection. That inspection was a part of Alyeska's routine maintenance program, and was documented in accordance with our improved Quality Program.

Alyeska has completed an excavation aimed at discovering how far oil may have traveled in the area north of Check Valve 92 (CV 92). The 25 foot deep excavation 290 feet north of CV 92 was completed this afternoon and found no evidence of crude oil. Additional excavation 200 feet north of CV 92 is currently underway to gather additional information. Excavation around CV 92 is also underway and should be completed tomorrow morning. Crews will be working through the night, and Alyeska will continue to work cooperatively with representatives of the Federal and State governments to resolve this incident in a manner consistent with Alyeska's recently implemented Quality Program.

Crude oil received from North Slope producers has increased from 700,000 barrels per day last night to 860,000 barrels per day. Operating pressure at milepost 594 has been held constant.