Stacked Trans Alaska Pipeline Oil Pipe

The author snapped this picture of 48" oil pipe stacked --too long--at Prudhoe Bay in 1975. Alaska leaders supported passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, which helped guide Congress (i.e. By the one Senate vote of Vice President Agnew) to approve the project a half decade later. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was completed and the economies of Alaska and the U.S. were significantly strengthened. Caribou presence and wildlife protection in the area, perhaps contrary to popular myth, have improved as well. But with oil production from Prudhoe now dwindling to nearly one-third its start-up rate (by 2011), and with North American energy demand and foreign imports increasing, new domestic sources must be found and produced.

This web page, begun a decade ago, is intended to support friendly and effective communications among stakeholders: northern citizens, Canadian and U.S. companies and government entities. With good communications, perhaps this public service effort in some small but significant way can help assure that gas pipe is never stacked and waiting years for delayed approvals. 

-dh

7-12-09