The Observer, December 2004

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Alyeska Viewpoint: Workforce performs well despite stressful times

by Rod Hanson

In recent months representatives of the citizens’ council have spoken frequently about their concerns over workplace morale at the Valdez Marine Terminal. It is well known that, through the Strategic Reconfiguration project, potentially significant modifications to terminal operations are undergoing preliminary engineering study. The objective of Strategic Reconfiguration is to simplify terminal facilities, operations, and maintenance to accommodate changes in production, while maintaining safety, operational integrity, environmental and regulatory commitments. Still, Valdez employees understand that a simplified terminal will require fewer jobs. Then this summer, as should also be well-known, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union began an organizing campaign among Valdez technicians that is still under way.

With so much uncertainty, some ask whether Alyeska managers and employees can work together to maintain the focus necessary to assure that we continue to operate safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

The answer is that, despite the fact that these have been challenging times for all of us, we are doing so.

A few weeks ago, the Oil Movement and Storage team celebrated four years of work without an injury requiring a report to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). This team operates the tank farm, the two metering facilities, and essentially all assets on the terminal other than the berths or the ballast water treatment operation, and has processed an average of over 9,000 work permits per year during that period. The ballast-water team recently completed 3 years without an OSHA recordable injury. To date, Alyeska employees have worked without a single recordable injury since the start of 2004.

This fall, Alyeska employees and contractors in Valdez set a new record for pledges and contributions to United Way, showing that in a time of uncertainty that the men and women who work at the terminal and the Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) remain committed to their community and to response to the many needs here in Valdez. This doesn’t include the many volunteer hours employees of Alyeska and its contract partners provide to Valdez schools, non profit agencies, youth and community activities. This May, in fact, Valdez-based employees of Alyeska’s contractor Houston NANA contributed over $3,000 and formed the largest single contributing group supporting the Second annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Valdez.

In October the Alyeska Fire Brigade swept all four events in the state firefighter competition for the 11th straight year, following that with a highly successful, week-long, live fire training exercise at the world-class Texas A&M facility near College Station.

Also in October, SERVS and terminal employees and contractors participated in the 2004 Valdez Marine Terminal Oil Spill Drill. This one-day drill of a large scale spill to water included activities in both the field and the Valdez Emergency Operations Center and involved over 160 players, controllers, and evaluators. Field responders set a new speed record of 3.5 hours for the deployment of protection boom at the Solomon Gulch Hatchery and Valdez Duck Flats.

In August, EPA staff performed a surprise audit to evaluate the terminal’s compliance with its Title V Air Quality Permit and found that we were in good compliance with only minor and correctable document deficiencies. During 2004 to date, we have had only four spills at the terminal, involving a total of slightly over six gallons, and none to water.

Some significant projects were completed this summer, including the isolation, drain down and cleaning of Berth 1 ballast water and crude oil piping, and the isolation and drain down of Berth 3 crude oil piping (cleaning is scheduled for 2005), the completion of the end seal and liner repair of the main firewater system, and draining, cleaning and inspection of four crude oil tanks. As many at the citizens’ council may be aware, we have also undertaken a major project this year at the Ballast Water Treatment Facility to study the fate and effects of benzene and other soluble hydrocarbons as ballast water moves through our three-stage treatment process. Council representatives and consultants have had the ability to observe this work, and access to the ballast water facility to carry out their own independent evaluations. The two studies will continue into next year and have marked a new threshold in information sharing between Alyeska and the council.

I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit that these are challenging times for Alyeska employees in Valdez, and that there have been many times when morale has been better. But in a time of uncertainty like we are experiencing now, I couldn’t be prouder of the efforts and the accomplishments of the men and women who work for our company and for our contractors, doing their best to move Alaska’s oil safely.

•Rod Hanson is manager of Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal.