The Observer, May 2005
Feds OK Alyeska plans to overhaul tanker terminal
Federal regulators in late March gave their approval, at least in general terms, for plans by Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to overhaul its tanker terminal in Valdez.
The federal Bureau of Land Management issued both a final Environmental Assessment of the project, and a final Finding of No Significant Impact. Both documents were issued in draft form in November 2004, and revised after detailed comments from the citizens’ council. (See article in March 2005 Observer.)
Alyeska's tanker terminal in Valdez will see a major overhaul during Strategic Reconfiguration. Photo by Stan Jones.
The documents reflect a conclusion by the regulators that the overhaul, known as Strategic Reconfiguration, would not have a significant environmental impact and can go ahead as outlined by Alyeska. However, each project during the overhaul would require a detailed review by the regulators, and a formal decision called a Notice to Proceed.
As the Observer went to press, the extent and nature of the revisions resulting from the council comments was still being determined. The new documents were under review by a council contractor, with a report expected to be presented at the council board’s May meeting in Valdez.
According to the BLM documents, the overhaul will include the following elements:
• Installation of internal floating roofs on at least 12 crude oil storage tanks
• Decommissioning of the existing power plant, which runs on hydrocarbon vapors released during the passage of crude oil through the terminal
• Replacement of tanker vapor control system with new vapor combustors
• Replacement of pumped seawater firewater supply system by a gravity-fed freshwater system
• Provision of electrical power by connection to commercial power grid, with on-site diesel backup, or by installation of on-site primary diesel plant and backup
The BLM findings are available online.
In addition, the council maintains a Strategic Reconfiguration site on the Internet.