THIS SITE HISTORICAL:
In 2008 through 2010, an "Independent mom & pop" oil company violated the "Alaskan Public Trust" doctrine, allowing malfeasance and environmental atrocities upon the "Last Frontier". This "blog" is dedicated to follow the outcome of the illegal activities that have now become front and center attention before the regulators in charge of making sure the "Public Trust" is upheld, as a centralized forum to make sure Alaskans and others are kept abreast of penalties and fines upon those that feel Alaska is the "Last Frontier Dumping Grounds".

The above image depicts a crude oil well flow-back test, wherein for days hydrocarbon saturated "wet" natural gas was allowed to vent to the atmosphere out a safety relief valve, with temperatures and ambient conditions such that the "wet" vapors most likely condensed and fell upon the pristine waters of Harrison Bay of the Colville River delta, a place so far removed from man-made pollution. This image is also the cover photo of the report called "Alaska's Deadliest Sin", a culmination of malfeasance and environmental corruption evidence upon this Independent, collected by an ex-employee who has made it a personal "mission" to make sure this kind of irresponsible behavior is stopped and never again repeated on this "Frontier". To date, the company – Pioneer Natural Resources - has attempted to deny all allegations, but the evidence allowing denial is too strong. With that, the company has started to admit true so serious these violations. They have admitted their actions are indeed a violation of "Public Trust". With a 3rd party ongoing investigation following the submittal of the "Sin", the end result should be stiff fines and penalties upon the perpetrators, that which sends a message to those that want to "Go North" for oil exploration and exploitation.

"Drill Baby Drill" is upon us, thanks to Sarah Palin and others, and we must stand up against this all out blitzkrieg assault upon the ecosystem, to protect the environment from continued malfeasance and environmental atrocities, as it is not worth another Love Canal!
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Saturday, August 14, 2010

Retaliation Alive on the "Slope"!

It is well known that back in the 90’s, oil patch “whistleblowers” feared their livelihoods and were retaliated against for raising concerns, about safety or environmental issues. But with intervention by Congress and labor laws that protect so-called “whistleblowers”, it is un-wise to think that a retaliatory like environment at the workplace may get the point across to other workers that bringing up concerns will not be tolerated. The old ways of minding your own business and letting management worry about the rules and regulations, is a thing of the past in the Alaskan oil business, maybe! Just recently a person of interest that was well aware of the environmental concerns that are under investigation by the Alaska regulators was unexpectedly let go, through his contractor performing work for Pioneer Natural Resources, at the Oooguruk oil development project located on Harrison Bay of the Colville River delta, to which this “blog” site is dedicated upon. The “whistleblower” was informed that his concerns and behavior to follow Standard Operating Procedures was “impeding” the activities of the operation! Basically this individual had the gall to confront a Pioneer direct over some issues, and found himself a right-now helicopter ride to the unemployment line. Questioning procedures! Well it was lack of procedures that finds Pioneer the possibility of stiff fines and penalties for illegal waste disposal and other mind-boggling irresponsible behaviors. This guy was laid off, for following the rules, when at the same time his position was posted, a day before being told the bad news! According to reliable sources, he was labeled a “disgruntled employee” after being interviewed by his company’s attorneys, after Pioneer’s 1st report upon the environmental concerns was denied by Pioneer’s own legal advisors, denials which today have found Pioneer in hot-water with the regulators, basically the denial tactic didn’t work. So this dedicated employee of a contractor was trying to follow the rules and regulations, he was let go. With no work, a mortgage and a baby, this indeed is a frightening attempt by business to use the old ways and means to instill upon workers that retaliation may follow workers that don’t mind their own. This is what is happening today on the “slope”, not with the “Big Oil” players that learned over the years that this type of abuse doesn’t work, but this kind of mentality is resurfacing with the new kid on the block, the Independents. Déjà vu? Yes, pure out-right outrageous retaliation upon responsible and respected workers who are concerned upon this beautiful environment and ecosystem that keeps Alaska apart from the wasted lands. So this is not a good sign and it appears that we may be going through the same damn horror scenario that occurred years ago, wherein these oil company bastards think it is just a wasteland. Wherein raising concerns hurts production, something the shareholders get concerned upon, as it appears that the “No” concern mentality trumps a stewardship of ethical behavior, and people that deviate outside that fraternity loose their jobs. How pathetic! Sue them is my sentiment.