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Cordova's Copper River Watershed Project is circulating a petition advocating for an independent citizen oversight council for the trans-Alaska pipeline.

The organization's overall mission is to provide residents with a forum to consider and implement innovative approaches for achieving balance between a diverse economy and healthy ecosystems while maintaining quality of life and cultural heritage.

One of the group's projects over the last few years has been to promote the idea of a citizen oversight council for the pipeline, similar to the councils for crude oil operations in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. In 2009, after several pipeline explosions in the Lower 48, the organization received a $48,000 grant from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to study the feasibility of a council for the Alaska pipeline.

The organization is suggesting a council consisting of "chapters," with each chapter responsible for overseeing the pipeline in a specific watershed.

"Each geographic segment of the pipeline corridor deals with different geographic conditions, and working in chapters would enable the sub-groups to address those specific conditions," said Kate Alexander, project and membership coordinator for the group. "For example, the North Slope deals with permafrost and the southern chapters would deal more with seismic activity."

The organization has a working mission, a modified version of the Prince William Sound council's mission: "Citizens promoting the safe transportation of oil and gas from the North Slope to Valdez."

"We plan to draw largely on Alaska's existing councils' experiences and lessons," said Alexander. The group is proposing to use the southern-most segment, the Copper River watershed, as a pilot run for the other chapters.

The petition is addressed to the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Congress, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Alaska State Senator Johnny Ellis, President of Alyeska Pipeline Company Thomas Barrett, and Alyeska Corporate Communication Director Michelle Egan. The group is asking for passage of legislation that authorizes and funds independent citizen oversight for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

The Copper River organization said it is concerned about recent leaks and spills and worries that major spills are more likely due to an aging pipeline and issues associated with low flow.

Less oil has been flowing through the pipeline in recent years, from a maximum of 2.1 million barrels per day in the 80's to about 570,000 barrels today. According to a recent study done by Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which operates the pipeline and the Valdez tanker terminal, issues such as water separating from the oil and freezing, wax buildup, and damaging frost heaves can result from the lower flow of oil.

The pipeline crosses five major tributaries of the Copper River. The organization fears that a break in the line near any of these rivers could send oil into the Copper River before an effective cleanup effort could get going. A study done by the organization projected that a spill in the Copper River watershed could travel 23 miles downriver in six hours, which is Alyeska's estimated spill response time.

The Prince William Sound citizens' council does not oversee the pipeline, as its purview is limited to the oil terminal in Valdez and the tankers that use it. However, the council has always supported the concept of citizen oversight wherever a major industrial project could threaten the environment.

"The pipeline poses risks to Alaska's environment and economy similar to those from the terminal and tankers in Prince William Sound," said Mark Swanson, executive director of the council. "In fact, spills from the southern section of the pipeline could actually carry oil into the Sound. So we think citizen oversight for the pipeline is a great idea and encourage similarly concerned citizens to sign the petition."

Sen. Mark Begich said that, when it comes to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the Joint Pipeline Office is a unique entity bringing all state and federal agencies together. He said he will always listen to Alaskans and get their ideas, but is not promoting changes to existing oversight at this time.

"I appreciate the value of citizen involvement at the local level and have supported the existing regional citizens' advisory councils," Sen. Mark Begich said. "I've also proposed updated funding for them, along with stronger citizen involvement in Arctic outer continental shelf development."

"We know Alaskans are interested in our operation, especially given its importance to the state's economy. We encourage citizen input to Alyeska through numerous existing channels," said Michelle Egan, Alyeska's Director of Corporate Communications.

A link to the petition can be found on the Copper River Watershed Project's website. 343 members of the public had signed it as of early September.