9-7-00

JOINT PIPELINE OFFICE

Weekly Report 8/25/00 - 9/7/00

For additional information, contact Rhea DoBosh at 271-4338; fax 271-3071

JPO Oversight of TAPS:

JPO Coverage - JPO will situate staff to observe various aspects of the upcoming TAPS planned maintenance shut down September 16 and 17. Work scheduled includes replacement of two valves (CKV 74 and M2 - a valve inside the manifold building at PS 9), testing of approximately 32 mainline remote gate valves and check valves, and other maintenance work along the pipeline, at pump stations, and the Valdez Marine Terminal.

Surveillances - Recently released surveillances are as follows:

Evaluate and document compliance with Stabilization, Seeding and Planting, Clearing, and Restoration Stipulations in regard to construction of river training structures at MP 218.5, 185.5, and 186.2.
Evaluate and document compliance for Dietrich River Bank Revetment, flood plain damage repair.
Inspect flood damage and repair activities at PLMP 578.17.
Verification of corrections to findings identified in JPO Assessment 98-A-013, "An Evaluation of Preventative Maintenance on TAPS."
Access road and workpad bridge inspections to verify repairs are completed to comply with Stipulations at Moose Creek, French Creek, and Fish/Mastadon Creek.

Copies of JPO reports are available upon request.

North Slope Pipelines:

Northstar - Veco Construction electricians working on BP's Northstar project on the production island walked off the job Sunday, September 3 citing unsafe working conditions. BP informed the media that reports of unsafe conditions had been placed to BP's safety hot line and they would be investigating. Work resumed Monday. The concerns were not related to the pipeline.

Nuiqsut Natural Gas Pipeline - Winter construction is being planned for the upcoming 2001 season.

People On the Move:

After nearly six years as DNR Commissioner, John Shively will be leaving state service this month to spend more time with his family. Best wishes, Commissioner.

The Governor has appointed Pat Pourchot to serve as the next Commissioner starting around September 17. Mr. Pourchot has been the lead for Governor Knowles Legislative Team from the beginning of the administration and is a former legislator. The DNR Commissioner and BLM State Director co-lead the JPO Executive Council, comprised of all JPO agencies.

John McDonagh, ADEC liaison to JPO, has accepted a new position and will be moving on later this month. His contributions to JPO have been greatly appreciated and we wish him well in his new endeavors.

Outreach:

JPO provided a general overview of the right-of-way renewal processes to representatives from several environmental associations.

Media:

Staff were interviewed by a reporter from The New York Times regarding JPO responsibilities, BP, and North Slope pipeline projects.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner inquired about current events and status of the release of JPO's TAPS Employee Concerns survey. Results are being tabulated for analysis. The report will probably be available around the end of September or in early October.

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To receive weekly reports via e-mail, contact Rhea DoBosh at RDOBOSH@jpo.doi.gov.

Check out JPOâs homepage at http://corecom.net/JPO/

The Joint Pipeline Office is a consortium of six State and five Federal agencies with responsibilities for regulating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and other oil and gas pipelines in Alaska. The JPO came into existence in 1990 and stemmed from a cooperative effort by the Bureau of Land Management and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.