Chevron’s Oil – Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
12 02 2009
Prince William Sound
For the residents of south central Alaska, hearing the words “Exxon Valdez” causes a visceral reaction in the gut. The carelessness, recklessness, and ineptitude of one of our supposed partners in economic development that caused the spill of 10-30 million gallons of crude oil (depending who you believe) was a stab in the heart – the heart being the beautiful and pristine waters of Prince William Sound. The Sound was home to wildlife, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, a spiritual place of great significance to Native Alaskans, a means of livelihood for fishermen, home to several coastal communities, and a jewel in America’s crown that many outside of Alaska came to enjoy, or dreamed of visiting.
The Sound has never recovered from that spill. Recent studies tell us that the resident pod of orcas will not survive. Digging in the beaches near Bligh Reef will reveal thick black crude oil inches below the surface. Many people lost their livelihoods, and more than 20% of the litigants who sued Exxon for their negligence had already died while Exxon dragged out the appeals process for almost 20 years. A conservative Supreme Court ruled again and again in favor of the corporation, while payments due to victims were whittled down to a fraction of the original amount.
The temptation to use the word “evil” to describe Exxon is strong. But this entity which seeks to maximize profit and minimize loss is only behaving like a corporation. Alaskans don’t get angry at polar bears for killing people. We don’t call them “evil”. They are just polar bears after all, and they do what polar bears do. If it moves, it’s food. Nothing personal. End of story. But, as thinking people who value our lives, we do learn to guard ourselves against them, and we never trust them, and we don’t believe people who tell us we should.
And so should it be with corporations. People don’t factor in to their equations. They maximize profits, and minimize losses, and make as much money as possible for their shareholders. They are just corporations after all, and they do what corporations do. The difference between corporations and polar bears, is that we haven’t learned to guard ourselves against corporations, and sometimes we still trust them, and the people who tell us we should.
Today, on the shores of Cook Inlet, a body of water which lies on the other side of the Chugach Mountains from Prince William Sound, there is a tank farm owned by Chevron. This tank farm consists of seven tanks, each one capable of holding 270,000 barrels of oil. That’s more than 11 million gallons total. This tank farm sits next to the Drift River which feeds into the Inlet. And it also sits at the base of Mt. Redoubt, which happens to be an active volcano that is currently at “orange alert” meaning it will likely erupt sometime soon.
The last time Mt. Redoubt erupted, the searing heat caused the glacier on its north face to melt, sending at its peak of flood 60,000 cubic meters of water per second rushing past the tank farm, a volume comparable to the output of the Mississippi River, only boiling hot. What might happen this time? With things like volcanoes, one can never be sure.
But we have been burned before by not being prepared. Now, in Prince William Sound, we only allow double hulled tankers, containment booms are at the ready. So, when we see a potential problem in the making, like lots of oil sitting between the volcano and the deep blue sea, we want to know how much oil is actually in these tanks, what precautions Chevron is taking to make sure we don’t have an environmental disaster on our hands, what equipment is available, and what Chevron plans to do if the worst happens. We need to know this in part because Cook Inlet is home to important salmon fisheries, halibut, and endangered beluga whales. Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, sits on its shores, and it reaches the coastal communities of Kodiak, Homer, Seldovia and many others.
So what is the status of the tank farm, and what are Chevron’s precautions and plans? How much oil is there?
I’m not going to tell you.
It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that Chevron doesn’t think I, or you, or any member of the public has the right to know. We can expect such a response from a polar bear corporation. Transparency, accountability and the public disclosure of spill risk can make for some publicity that might undermine the profit goal. And the profit goal is what they do. Nothing personal.
But surely, there’s someone out there looking out for the public’s interest. What about the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC)? I see a recent press release about contaminated oysters…but nothing about Chevron. Surely the Coast Guard is there to ensure that proper disclosures are made. But, the Coast Guard agrees. You don’t have a right to know.
And what is the rationale for their secrecy? Homeland security. Yes, the Coast Guard and Chevron will have you believe that this information will play right into the hands of hardy terrorists who have decided to travel to Alaska in the dead of winter, and traverse more than a hundred miles of virtual wilderness, across a major body of water with no bridge, and use this secret knowledge to commit some diabolical act of terror in a region of Alaska where there are no people.
Bob Shavelson, the executive director of Cook Inlet Keeper said in a recent interview with Bobby Kennedy regarding this situation:
“We knew right after September 11th, we saw the Bush administration come in with these draconian secrecy policies that the oil and gas industry and other corporate chiefs were very happy to embrace because it totally attacked the public’s right to know about chemical hazards and threats to our public water supply. This is a perfect example. You’ve got an oil supply at the base of an active volcano that’s about ready to blow. Chevron refuses to tell anyone how much oil is in these tanks, and they also refuse to share their plans, even though we’ve got remarkable salmon fisheries that lie right at the base of this facility.”
So, for argument’s sake, let’s assume this is true; that this knowledge in the wrong hands is dangerous. It is so dangerous, in fact, that it trumps the public’s right to know.
So, naturally then, if you ask how much oil there is in the tank farm in the coastal community of Valdez, where the last big oil spill occurred, you’ll get the same answer, right? “Homeland security. Sorry, can’t tell you.” You’d think that, wouldn’t you? But you’d be wrong. You see, the Alyeska tank farm in Valdez not only will tell you how much oil is there if you ask, they release that information every single day. For instance, I can tell you that on February 3, the Alyeska tanks were 68% full because that’s public information. A couple hundred miles away, they’re obviously not worried that I’m a terrorist. See here [alyeska]
So, what are we to make of this, while keeping in mind the lesson of the polar bear? Bears will be bears and corporations will be corporations. Both are formidable, and neither should be trusted. Ask yourself why Chevron doesn’t want you to know how much oil is there at the base of a volcano that’s about to erupt. But more disturbingly, ask yourself why the U.S. Coast Guard considers the tank volume information from Chevron at Drift River “sensitive security information” pursuant to the Homeland Security Act, and cloaks this information in secrecy, while a couple hundred miles away in Valdez that same information is being delivered openly on a daily basis. And ask yourself why the State of Alaska is not defending your right to know.
Mt. Redoubt at sunset, seen from Anchorage.
(This article is cross-posted on The Huffington Post)
February 13th, 2009 at 8:39 AM
I think it’s very interesting. The oil sands in northern Alberta are coming under scrutiny again for pollutants that have been leaching out of tailings ponds. A private citizen laid charges. Another private citizen laid charges back in 1982 for the same reason. What changed in those 27 years? Nothing. Did anyone from our government step in to lay charges under various environmental laws? No. They did nothing.
So it follows that Chevron has done nothing since the last time Redoubt erupted. This is an oil company, remember? Even without the Homeland Security excuse, Canadians can’t find out how much, when, etc.
Redoubt might sputter out. Or we might see another Novarupta: the largest volcano of the 20th century, that made Pinataubo look like a campfire. Oh, that’s right. Nobody remembers.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Thanks, everyone for the nice compliments. Water issues as they relate to humans, and non-humans alike are near and dear to my heart. The story of Cook Inlet is not only the potential hazards like what I discussed above, but what is actually happening now, and the billions of gallons of toxics that are legally dumped there on a continual basis.
And my hat’s off to Bob Shavelson of Cook Inlet Keeper, Pam Miller at Alaska Community Action on Toxics and the many many others in Alaska who are out there in the trenches dealing with this stuff every day on behalf of people who can be pretty apathetic.
OK, I’m going to stop before this turns into a post!
February 13th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I imagine Gino is secretly pleased at the thought of the volcano damaging the tank farm in Cook Inlet. She hopes the damage would mean she would no longer have to abide by environmental rules that are presently obstructing her own plan to destroy Cook Inlet. It would be her personal message from God.
Thank you AKM for this story. It should alarm everyone.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:22 AM
I’ve been out of state for a couple of weeks, so am playing catch-up with your posts, AKM. This one sent a real chill down my spine. As one on the front lines way back when the Trans Alaska Pipeline was first purposed to terminus in Valdez, and the whole state was in greedo mode, my little town stood alone in opposition. We did not oppose the pipe-line per se, just it’s terminus in Prince William Sound. We preferred the alternate route (ironically being proposed now for AGIA) thru Canada, and reaching the midwest and NE where the oil was needed. It was a different time, and there was little interest or support from fledgling environmental groups. We were commercial fishermen that imposed our own financial levy on our catches to pay for our cause, sending fisherman nationwide with our story. It got some attention of national groups that slowed the start of the terminus plan, but failed to get the protections we knew were needed (and now in place, after the fact of the spill we knew would eventually come).
The oil companies have discovered (and probably always knew) that so-called “clean-up” after the fact, is cheaper than costly protections up front. And the Supreme Court of The United States backs them up.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Attention MudFlaters: Go to HuffPo and “buzz this up”. Attention and dissemination of information is the first step.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
There’s been a major renovation project done over at the Drift River tank farm since Redoubt blew last time. It was because of the flooding caused by the lahars last time and was done to mitigate damage in case of another major flood event. I will have to go talk to a neighbor who worked on the project for details.
Here’s a really cool webpage on Redoubt and lahars:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/methods/hydrologic/afm_redoubt.php
February 13th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Welcome home CRFlats!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Thanks, it was a working trip. Got face time with all of Alaska’s delegation. It’s mayhem back there. Will be interesting (but probably not in a good way) to see how the stimulus $$ are spent in Alaska. Would feel better if more confident in our leadership here at home. Would really like to see the $$ for school construction left in the package. Sure seems like it would stimulate jobs as well as be good for the kids. The construction season is so short here in Alaska that a one month delay can mean what till next year. What gets left out of “Stimulus” will go thru the long process of Appropriations, and the rules there are complicated. Alaskan projects will get special scrutiny, no doubt.
Anyway, good to be home.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Re: wired differently – Keep on carrying on! Epic rant. I couldn’t agree more!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:47 PM
“Only when the last tree has been cut down; only when the last river has been poisoned; only when the last fish has been caught; only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.” American Indian Proverb
February 13th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
CRFlats (12:15:38) :
re: stimulus $$ in AK – I was happy to see $$ left in for rural broadband … some of us out in the boonies still have dial-up and can’t access all the goodies …
February 13th, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Y’all can start your own diaries on the Daily Kos—also, too.
Moose Pucky’s ramblings can be found at:
http://akmk.dailykos.com/
February 13th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
@yukonbusgrma
Wonder if that will be affordable rural broadband… or just rural broadband business as usual that’s priced too high for many!?
February 13th, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Thanks AKM, and apologies for my slow comment. But yes, I sat in a briefing last week where the Coast Guard and Chevron both refused to say how much oil remained in the tanks. All they would say is that the volume of two 270,000 barrel storage tanks was “less than 50%.” So, with 42 gallons per barrel and assuming 49%, that’s over 10,000,000 gallons of oil sitting at the mouth of Drift River, where the lahars from the 1989-1990 Redoubt eruption caused major flooding, emergency unloading and evacuations, etc. As you note, the Homeland Security rationale falls on its face when Alyeska releases tank volumes EVERY DAY. So, once again, Cook Inlet is the forgotten step child. No high powered tug escorts for laden tankers, when Price William Sound and Puget Sound both require them (don’t forget the Seabulk Pride tanker grounding in 2006 – see http://www.inletkeeper.org/2005/IssuesAndAdvocacy/Seabulk%20Pride%20Incident%202006.htm). And Cook Inlet remains the ONLY coastal waterbody in the nation where Chevron and other legally dump billions of gallons of toxic waste into our rich fisheries each year (we’ve had to spend precious resource to sue them in federal court to stop this archaic practice, but Chevron makes more money by foisting the cost of treatment on the back of our public water resources – http://www.inletkeeper.org/energy/production.htm). And what did the Coast Guard say when a supply boat went down last month next to Chevron’s Granite Point platform, with 40,000 gallons of diesel aboard and hundreds of gallons of hazardous chemicals? “It’s a drop in the bucket and not a serious concern.” See http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/655303.html. Don;t get me wrong, the Coast Guard does great work. But when it comes time to stand up to the largest and most powerful corporations in the world, our state and federal agencies treat Cook Inlet as a corporate colony. So, as we prepare for fishing season, it’s business as usual in Cook Inlet. But we’ll keep pushing this string, and hope others here will get incensed enough to speak out. A good first step is an email to Larry Hartig, Commissioner at ADEC, asking why Alaskans don;t have a right-to-know how much oil threatens our salmon fisheries: larry.hartig@alaska.gov
February 14th, 2009 at 1:11 AM
As someone privy to Exxon’s nefarious and malevolent intentions in manipulating governments around the world in order to appropriate the world’s resources for their own profit, I strongly object to your comparison of a polar bear’s carnivorous instincts and Exxon’s brand of corporate self-interest.
The two are NOT comparable and your comparison is wholly unfair to polar bears. Polar bears do nothing to warrant your ugly and misplaced comparison.
Not all corporations will do anything to maximize profits. (Most corporations stop short of murdering their competition for example even though it would maximize profits.) Exxon, on the other hand, IS deserving of the term evil, because it is run by carefully a chosen upper management team of men who share a disdain for the natural world and future generations. My father used to laugh about dragging the Exxon-Valdez trial out and brag about paying off governments to ignore oil spills all over the world.
February 14th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Here’s what I’d do: Assume they are full since it’s all so top secret. If that volcano blows, that’s the maximum they’re likely to lose.
Then, write to the CEO and copy the list of industry analysts that cover Chevron and let them know that nothing seems to be getting done to protect their asset of millions of barrels of oil and copy that you’ll send the copy to the analysts if you don’t hear from them in a couple of days. Fax the letter to the CEO’s office and let them know you’ll send it to the media outlets at the same time as the analysts. Then you’ll get someone to pay attention–when it hits their (Chevron’s) pocket book.
February 14th, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Saw this on HuffPost. Your making it to the big time.
Also reminded me I had been too long away.