ANCHORAGE, AK – October 5, 2001 4:55 P.M.

• Background: The Trans-Alaska Pipeline was shutdown at about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2001, after an Alyeska Security surveillance crew detected oil on the ground in the vicinity of MP 400, approximately 15 miles north of Pump Station 7. Oil spill control, containment and recovery operations were begun immediately. The oil discharge was the result of a puncture made by a bullet. A suspect is in custody with the Alaska State Troopers..
• Current Leak Status: The leak rate is diminishing due to the source control actions which have assisted the spill responders in their efforts to keep up with the discharge from the leak.
• Estimated Spill Volume: 6600 barrels as of 3:30 P.M.
• Recovered Oil: 357 barrels as of 3:30 P.M.
• In Field Responders: 80 plus 7 agency personnel.
• Incident Management Team: 100 plus 12 agency personnel.
• Impacted Area: 2 acres -- 1 acre heavy, 1 acre light.
• Village Response Teams from Rampart, Stevens Village and Minto have been activated.
• Wildlife Impacts: None.
• Personnel Injuries: None.
• Weather: Cooling trend; rain turning to snow overnight.
• North Slope producers have reduced production to 5 percent.
• Valdez Marine Terminal: Tankers are continuing to load using oil from storage.
• The following Unified Command has been established to manage this incident:

Federal On-Scene Commander is Carl Lautenberger, EPA
State On-Scene Commander is Ed Meggert, ADEC
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Incident Commander is Bill Howitt

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