Online Observer

Pilot test evaluates testing methods for buried liners

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How do you detect damage underground? The Council, Alyeska, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, or ADEC, have been trying to answer that question. The results from a recent pilot test are providing direction to help ensure that oil will not leak through the secondary containment liners under the storage tanks at the Valdez Marine Terminal.

Finding flaws in an underground liner

Last summer, Alyeska conducted a pilot test for locating damage in the special asphalt liners that surround the crude oil storage tanks at the terminal.

The liners are part of a system surrounding the tanks that is designed to prevent oil from leaking into the environment. The liners are difficult to examine because they are buried under several feet of earthen fill. Digging them up for inspection is expensive, time-consuming, and historically has caused damage.

Since the liners were installed nearly 50 years ago, only a small percentage has ever been uncovered and evaluated for damage. When sections have been uncovered, holes or cracks have been found about 19% of the time.

Both Alyeska and the Council have been looking for a method that can determine whether there are cracks or faults in the liner, and if so, where they are located, without having to dig, per requirements set by ADEC.

Results from pilot test

Of the methods that were tested last July, electrical leak location was determined to be the most feasible. This type of survey is done by applying electric currents to the ground outside the liner and measuring electric currents on the surface of the fill inside the liner. A solid liner would block the currents. Holes or cracks would allow the current to flow through. The currents that flow through the liner can be detected from the surface, allowing technicians to create a map of damaged areas.

Further analysis to come

Alyeska conducted this pilot test in preparation for a larger-scale test. When approving the last update to Alyeska’s oil spill contingency plan, ADEC placed a condition on the plan’s approval, requiring that Alyeska conduct further analysis of the liner. The timeline for these additional tests is yet to be determined.

How much of the liner needs to be tested?

The Council hired Dr. Craig Benson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Joe Scalia, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University, to weigh in on the pilot test results. They determined that when the large-scale testing is done, at least 20% of the liner needs to be examined to be able to confidently estimate the frequency and size range of defects in the liner.

Details in the report:

Find out more about the pilot test and the expert’s recommendations in the report: Review of Pilot Study of Secondary Containment System

Two years later: Has safety at Alyeska improved?

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Alyeska’s response yields many improvements although concerns remain

Screenshot of cover of report
View 2023 report (PDF 4.1MB): “Assessment of Risks and Safety Culture at Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal”

A 2023 Council report identified some serious safety risks at Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal. Since that time, the Council has been monitoring the actions taken by Alyeska to improve the work culture and more effectively promote an atmosphere of safety. Many areas have improved over the last two years. Some improvements are still in process and some areas of concern remain.

The 2023 report raised concerns about whether the terminal was operating safely and in compliance with regulations. The report was authored by Billie Pirner Garde, a national expert on safety culture for work environments in energy industries. In the report, Garde made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the situation.

Alyeska’s efforts to improve

When the report was first released, the Council was encouraged by its reception. Alyeska President John Kurz spoke to the Council and said that he and Alyeska’s executive team were taking the report seriously.

Alyeska formed an internal team to follow up and develop a plan to address the issues.

“Alyeska has engaged in a substantial amount of work to address the recommendations directed towards them,” says Donna Schantz, executive director for the Council.
Auditors reviewed worker safety and processes at the Valdez Marine Terminal

Alyeska conducted internal reviews and contracted with a third party to audit various factors that affect safety at the terminal.

Auditors compared the current safety system with federal requirements for “process safety management.” OSHA developed this set of standards to help industries safely manage the hazards of working with highly hazardous chemicals. This guidance helps recognize, evaluate, and control risks that could occur while working with hazardous materials.

The auditors identified some areas of improvement in Alyeska’s systems. Alyeska reported that corrective actions have been taken, and there are currently no outstanding audit findings. They also worked on better aligning their documentation regarding process safety management, including the creation of a compliance manual, and conducted additional training.

Alyeska also reviewed their deferred maintenance backlog. Among other issues, Alyeska improved how they evaluate risks associated with work orders. This ensures that higher-risk orders are identified appropriately. Alyeska has prioritized existing work orders and is monitoring any past due and upcoming commitments.

A few issues still remain. A review of human factors was conducted, and a program to help address and mitigate human-related accidents is still being developed. Alyeska also continues to review and assess recommended practices for establishing safety systems.

Alyeska working to encourage culture of safety

Garde’s report recommended mandatory training for supervisors to encourage a stronger safety culture. Alyeska has completed that training.

Alyeska also reported that they continue to develop and improve their employee concerns program. The success of that effort is yet to be determined.

Updated recommendations

Garde recently developed some additional recommendations. Among those, she recommended the Council develop a set of performance indicators that would serve as an objective measure for comparison when talking to Alyeska about concerns.

Remaining concerns

Though many of the safety issues have been addressed, the Council still has concerns: Alyeska has lost key staff with extensive institutional knowledge in recent months; gaps in regulatory oversight and monitoring remain unaddressed; and the Council and contractor Billie Garde continue to receive reports from employees concerned about safety issues.

Preventing oil spills requires strong safeguards, oversight, and information

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Donna Schantz

By Donna Schantz
Executive Director

I was reminded recently that when the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA 90, was voted on by Congress after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, it passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate. That kind of bipartisan support and unity is hard to image today, yet it is only when we set our differences aside and work together to find common ground that true and lasting change is made – for the good of all.

The Council’s mandates under OPA 90 include fostering long-term partnerships with government and industry. The Act specifically states, “…only when local citizens are involved in the process will the trust develop that is necessary to change the present system from confrontation to consensus.”

While the Council strives to build and maintain positive relationships with industry and regulators, the nature of our mission is to observe, ask questions, verify information, provide advice, and push for the highest level of transparency and safeguards. This has led to some uncomfortable conversations and recommendations over the years, and continues to this day. But, respectful disagreement is a cornerstone to addressing issues.

With that said, when information is withheld from citizens, trust is broken. If we look into issues and are told we don’t have all the facts, or that we have gotten something wrong, we are open to further examining and reevaluating our findings and conclusions based on the new information. However, we can’t correct any perceived inaccuracies unless we are provided what is needed. Improving the Council’s access to data and information necessary to fulfill our federally mandated role is the only way we can move forward together and work collaboratively with our industry and regulatory partners.

Another uncomfortable reality is the continued, and now escalating, federal budget cuts. The Council has raised concerns for years about reduced budgets, staffing, and resources at the agencies that oversee the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, including the Valdez Marine Terminal. Recent cuts to science and research budgets based on what is being characterized as an excessive and burdensome regulatory environment has concerned and alarmed many academics, researchers, and conservationists – as well as local citizens in our region. All of these concerns increase the risk of a major oil spill.

When we have comprehensive and consistent regulatory oversight, at both the federal and state level, along with citizen involvement, we create an environment that promotes development and ensures it is done safely. At a time when the U.S. is trying to unleash the full potential of American energy, we should be working to support a balanced approach for these agencies in their work, not cutting and decimating them.

All of this makes the work of the Council, and the need for all parties to work together on solutions, more important than ever. We need to be willing to have the uncomfortable conversations, respectfully and inclusively, and ensure there is adequate information to understand all impacts in the interest of safe transportation of oil through our region. We owe this to all those that suffered after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and to those who would suffer if another similar disaster were to happen. We must be strong in the face of adversity. Only together – government, industry, and citizens – can we protect our resources, economies, communities, and environment, as was envisioned when OPA 90 was unanimously endorsed.

From Alyeska: An interview with Atigun Lifetime Achievement winner, Gregory Tang

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A young Greg Tang holds up a test tube which contains a substance he is analyzing.
1992: Tang works in the lab at Alyeska.

Each year, Alyeska leaders select Atigun Award recipients, which recognize employees, contractors, and teams who stand out for their exceptional contributions and dedication on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, or TAPS. In 2025, Valdez Lab technician Greg Tang won the Lifetime Achievement award. In his 48 years on TAPS, Greg’s integrity, attention to detail, and continued desire to learn has made him an asset at Alyeska. After graduating from Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Technical School, Greg moved to Alaska, where he started a summer job as a TAPS contractor in 1975 as a lab technician. A year later, he took a senior role in the lab and continued building his skillset and accountabilities. Throughout his career, Greg, now a Field Science Technician, has embodied a selfless dedication to Alyeska, and is quick to share knowledge with fellow lab technicians and work groups.

Greg recently shared some of his experiences on TAPS, and what’s kept him around longer than oil has been flowing through the pipeline.

How did you feel when you heard you won this award?

Very surprised, totally unexpected, and humbled. When [Alyeska President and CEO] John Kurz called me to tell me about this, I first thought that he might want to ask me questions about a project that I nominated for an Atigun award. I am honored and grateful to be working with an amazing group of professionals and the “lab rats” in the lab.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is doing the Port Valdez Environmental Monitoring sampling on the response boat Valdez Star, and the mussel sampling in 2017.

A recent photo of Tang performing an analysis of a substance. He appears older in this photo than the photo towards the top of this page. The two images help demonstrate how long Tang has been working at Alyeska.
2025: Tang collecting samples.

Do you have a favorite day on TAPS? Tell us about it!

Yes, the most memorable day was July 28, 1977, when the first barrel of Alaska North Slope crude oil arrived at the terminal at 11:02 p.m. The City of Valdez threw a big street party to celebrate the following day. The Valdez ‘Oil In’ celebration was captured by international news media and broadcast around the world. My parents watched the news event on TV in Hong Kong. They called me and told me that they had watched the news, saw what Valdez looked like, and knew I was there celebrating and was part of the success story. It was a proud family moment and validated that my decision to move to Alaska was a right one. It was like the early version of #TAPSPride.

Is there anyone you’d like to recognize who has helped you along the way or supports your work?

There are many people who had helped me over the years (most of them had already retired) – from the Fluor engineers during the Valdez Marine Terminal construction, my mentors at the analyzer and instrument and electrical group, Ballast Water Treatment operators and staff during my time there, and most of all to my current Analytical Laboratory Services, or ALS, supervisor, Bob Carson, and my ALS colleagues. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with great teams and a world class organization.

  • Submitted by Alyeska Corporate Communications
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