The first environmental, social and governance report issued by the operator of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System states that the company “as the manager, administrator and operator” of the 800-mile oil line and Valdez marine terminal. It summarizes what he said was an overall positive initiative.
The 19-page report released last week by Alyeska Pipeline Services covers a wide range of metrics starting in 2022, the system’s 45th year of operation. Topics covered include greenhouse gas emissions associated with system operations, which are on the decline. Notable repair and maintenance projects. Use of fresh water. Alaska Native Recruitment and Workforce Diversity. Workplace accidents have decreased significantly over the past 20 years, but increased slightly in 2021 and 2022.
Michelle Egan, Alyeska’s chief communications officer, said the report is planned as the first in a series of annual ESG reports.
Alyeska has been publishing external and internal reports on specific aspects of its business for many years, and this ESG report aims to consolidate that information, Egan said.
“Our view was that we should put all of this into one public report and follow a framework that people are familiar with,” she said.
Alyeska is owned by three companies that hold majority stakes in the North Slope oil field. He owns 49.1% of Hilcorp’s Harvest Alaska unit, which the company acquired from his BP Plc. ConocoPhillips’ market share is 29.6%, and ExxonMobil’s market share is 21.3%.
The requirement to recruit and employ significant numbers of Alaska Natives remained in effect throughout Alyeska’s lifetime. Under the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement, first signed in 1996 and updated since then, the goals became more specific, listing 20% Native employment for Alyeska and its contractors and other goals, Egan said. It is said that
That 20% goal has been met for more than a decade, she said. In 2022, 27.2% of Alyeska’s workforce was from Alaska, and 20.5% of its contract workers were from Alaska, according to the report.
Key environmental events in 2022 include dealing with the “unprecedented challenges” of heavy spring snowfall, coupled with freeze-thaw cycles and glacial action, which could disrupt storage tank equipment at the Valdez terminal, according to the report. is said to have been damaged. Regulators said at the time that the damage caused hydrocarbon gases to be released from the storage tank, contrary to Clean Air Act requirements.
Other environmental activities during the year included 12 health inspections and excavations, including one on a steep ridge in Keystone Canyon, about 130 miles north of Valdez Terminal, according to the report. It is said that it was done.
The report cites positive results from employee surveys, with 83% believing Alyeska is operating safely and 89% believing sufficient environmental protection measures are in place. It is shown that there is.
These statistics contrast with the findings of a report issued in April by a watchdog group that identified safety problems at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
The report, by the Prince William Sound Regional Residents Advisory Committee, relies in part on information provided by employees and other people referred to as “stakeholders.” The report cited worker concerns over issues such as maintenance backlogs, aging and outdated equipment, and cost-cutting.
“According to Alyeska survey data, a significant percentage of employees believe a serious incident is imminent. Commitment to safety as a top priority, a key element of a safety culture, RCAC’s report states, “This appears to have replaced the emphasis on the economy, putting a strain on resources and compliance.”
The risk is exacerbated by staffing cuts at the Alaska Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies that regulate terminals, the RCAC report said.
Egan said Alyeska is confident in its safety performance and its “open work environment” where employees are encouraged to share their concerns. She said the company is reviewing the RCAC findings.
“We welcomed the report and their input,” she said.
Alyeska’s ESG report also summarizes the company’s contributions to nonprofit organizations in the state. It cites its special ties to the Anchorage Nordic Ski Association and the sport in general. Betsy Haynes, an Alyeska veteran who served as interim president of the company in 2022 and early 2023, was a member of the U.S. Ski Team and an Olympic athlete. Her niece is Kikkan Randall, a standout athlete on the U.S. Ski Team who won numerous World Cup titles and Olympic Games. gold medal. Randall currently serves as executive director of the Nordic Ski Association in Anchorage.
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