Online Observer

Remembering Richard Fineberg

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Dr. Richard Fineberg, expert on the economics and profits of the oil industry in Alaska, passed away in September 2024. Fineberg was a researcher and investigative journalist who focused on environmental issues related to petroleum development and oil economics in Alaska.

Fineberg conducted studies and wrote reports for many organizations, including the Council. In the 1990s and early 2000s, his research for the Council ranged from ballast water treatment to industry profits to how the oil industry is required to restore the land once the terminal and pipeline are no longer in use.

“Richard was meticulous in verifying the accuracy of his work,” said Donna Schantz, executive director for the Council. “His thoroughness and attention to detail made his contributions invaluable to the important discussions around these topics.”

In 2005, Fineberg analyzed how much money the trans-Alaska pipeline and oil terminal facilities in Valdez were making for the oil companies. At the time, the oil industry was claiming that, due to financial reasons, they needed to reduce environmental protections and were unable to afford new protections.

In 2004, Fineberg published a study on how the oil companies would pay for cleaning up after the pipeline stops shipping oil.

According to the lease agreement between the Trans Alaska Pipeline System owners and the state and federal governments, industry is obligated to dismantle and remove all equipment and facilities and restore the land to a satisfactory condition. This includes all facilities at the Valdez Marine Terminal.

To pay for this cleanup, a tariff was imposed on oil flowing through the pipeline. Fineberg analyzed how much was collected by this complicated tariff, and whether enough would be available for its intended purpose when the pipeline eventually shuts down.

“Anyone who was fortunate enough to have worked with Richard knows that he was an exceptionally smart public servant who put in a tremendous amount of his time and energy into researching complex issues,” said Schantz. “His work helped improve safety of Alaska’s oil transportation industry.”

More on Fineberg’s work

Dr Fineberg had an extensive career that touched on many topics. Learn more:

Two of Fineberg’s reports are available on our website:

Alyeska: New firefighting systems to reduce use of PFAS

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Four Alyeska employees wearing hard hats and protective gear stand in front of a palette of equipment that is about to be installed at Berth 4.
Alyeska Fire Chief Sean Wisner, firefighters David Arnold and Oberon Gallion, and VMT Operations technician Mike Keith stand in front of the new fire foam system on Berth 4. Photo courtesy of Alyeska Corporate Communications.

Last fall, Alyeska and contractor crews completed upgrades to the fixed firefighting foam proportioning system on Berth 5 at the Valdez Marine Terminal after lengthy research, testing, and approval process. The new fluorine-free foam system was approved by the state fire marshal, who witnessed its functional check out along with third party technicians and representatives.

This marks the first of many firefighting foam systems that are being upgraded to accommodate a shift towards fire protection on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, or TAPS, that is free from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. While a recently passed state law banning the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams carries a temporary exemption for use in the oil and gas industry, Alyeska personnel have been working toward the utilization of fluorine-free firefighting foams for several years, long before the state law passed. Plans are in place to continue the eventual transfer of the remaining fixed firefighting systems to safer and more environmentally friendly foams over the next several years. Berth 4 will undergo an identical upgrade starting in spring of 2025.

For the past three years, a multi-disciplined working group worked diligently to find a new system that would meet both fire safety and environmental standards. The group consisted of firefighting professionals, engineers, environmental coordinators, regulatory compliance specialists, procurement team members, and implementation leads from around TAPS. The new system has been designed with operations and maintenance in mind, leveraging state of the art technology that is both simpler to operate, and simpler to validate, with built-in testing features that do not rely on the discharge of foam.

“This new system demonstrates Alyeska’s dedication to environmental protection and personnel safety, especially in regards to the stewardship of Prince William Sound,” said Sean Wisner, Alyeska Fire Chief. “It puts us in a much better place from a firefighting perspective, and I am proud of the work that this team did over the past several years to get us to this point. The workgroup embodied the ‘speak and work as one team’ mindset throughout the research and implementation phases of this historic initiative.”

Council recertified by Coast Guard

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The Coast Guard has recertified the Council as meeting its responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

In a February 11 letter to the Council, Rear Admiral M.M. Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s District 17 in Juneau, notified the Council of the recertification.

The 1990 Act requires the Council to reapply yearly for the Coast Guard’s approval as the official citizens advisory group to the oil industry in Prince William Sound.

Guidelines established in 2002 streamlined the recertification process for two out of three years, with every third year requiring stricter procedures. The Council underwent the streamlined version this year. The comprehensive process, which includes a public comment period, will be required in our next cycle to commence at the end of this year.

The new recertification expires in February 2026.

From Alyeska: Believe in Zero: Safety mindset helps prevent incidents

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By Brandon Kilian, SERVS Response Coordinator

Over the summer, Alyeska employees submitted examples of why they “Believe in Zero” – why they believe it is possible to operate TAPS without injuries, spills, or other incidents. Kilian detailed how the team put this mindset to work during a recent escort tug deployment. Photo: The tug Courageous performs a “U” boom formation in coordination with a smaller vessel.

At Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System, or SERVS, we believe in zero injuries or incidents every day. Working in a high-risk industry and marine environment, we not only strive to do better every day but also understand that all accidents are preventable through rigorous safety measures and a culture of vigilance. Mindsets are particularly critical in oil spill prevention and response, where the stakes for human safety and environmental health are exceedingly high.

Preventing spills requires many hours of instructor-led training, conducting exercises, meticulous equipment maintenance, state-of-the-art technology, and adherence to strict safety protocols. On average, SERVS performs more than 100 training exercises and deployments every year. One example, tug U and J boom deployments, are conducted in the Port of Valdez for each escort tug. These deployments are a collaborative effort between Alyeska and Edison Chouest Offshore team members.

Prior to the deployment, objectives, expectations, weather considerations, and other recreational activities within the port are discussed with the participating team members. Known and potential hazards are identified for mitigation efforts. The deployment involves all tug crew members, and each has a role for in the deployment’s success.

After the tug’s work boat is splashed and boom deployed, the tug and work boat communicate and coordinate speed and heading while the boom forms U and J shapes between boats. The tug and work boat are expected to hold their ‘U’ formation and perform several 90-degree turns, then maneuver into a ‘J’ formation. Once the ‘J’ formation is complete, a skimmer is deployed to the water to simulate product recovery. Once all the objectives of the exercise are met, the exercise is complete and the crew works to recover, clean, and stow the response equipment. Team members meet afterwards to discuss post-deployment comments, concerns, and learning opportunities.

SERVS conducts these training evolutions so that in the event of an actual spill, a swift and coordinated response can be executed to mitigate impact to wildlife and the environment. We don’t train until we get it right; we train until we can’t get it wrong. Success in these endeavors hinges on something we all know working on TAPS, and that is teamwork; every team member at SERVS is completely committed to safety, collaboration, and clear communication. By working together and holding one another accountable, we can effectively prevent incidents and respond decisively. SERVS embodies the true spirit of Believe in Zero and the constant safeguarding of both people and Prince William Sound.

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