Glycol Injection without State Permit
In a report filed on March 12th to the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Committee(AOGCC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation(ADEC) through Pioneer’s legal advisor Stoel Rives, it is stated, “Pioneer’s investigation has located no evidence of slipstreaming used glycol into the seawater injection stream(or of an incentive to do so)” along with bragging rights that over 1000-manhours had been consumed finding “nothing”. But Pioneer’s own legally binding Daily Operational Log Book stated differently, providing evidence that the above mentioned report was a smoke-screen. The official log book documented the following entry: “Shutdown water line to island, depressurized and pumped glycol from beer tanks into water line”. The informer sent this readily available evidence to Pioneer’s legal advisor, stating his dissatisfaction with the original report, that it should have been discovered during the 1000-man hour investigation. When this evidence surfaced contradicting what was told to the authorities having oversight jurisdiction, Pioneer sent an amended report to the oversight agencies, now claiming that it was unfortunate that over 49,000-gallons of glycol may have been miss-injected without a permit from the AOGCC, which oversees things for the state as well as for the EPA. On April 22, Pioneer met with representatives of the AOGCC and verbally reported the injection of the glycol/water mixture(withdrawing the original “no evidence” plea to admitting 49000 gallons had been miss-injected without a permit). Accordingly, “The same day, these events were also described in brief to Chief Assistant Attorney General Steve Mulder, as ADEC’s representative in this matter”. The amended report tried to soften the blow, as reporting “nothing substantiated” upon a former employee’s concerns about illegal injections required finding a convenient scapegoat to place blame upon, as these activities are illegal, a violation upon the “public trust” doctrine and perpetrators can face jail time if convicted. According to the amended report, “The injection was the result of honest mistakes”. Bottom-line, this report tried to place blame on the inexperienced operators, who were directed to pump the glycol, as a means to get rid of this hazardous stuff and considered “sham recycling”, by orders from the senior on-site management. Based on Reporting Quantity requirements of in force through EPA guidelines, this was a reportable quantity as it was in total over 5000-pounds. And when the 1st report was received by the oversight agencies, had it not been for the informer pressing on his “mission” to uncover a blatant disregard for environmental stewardship this Independent had to offer at the Oooguruk development site, the smoke screen may have worked. In line with what BP was fined for that which occurred at its Endicott Island facility wherein illegal injection was also uncovered, and as a future deterrent, Pioneer should find the same punishment. The EPA fine should be the same. A felony conviction for the corporation, a $500,000 fine and required to have those involved in such disposal, properly trained, including management, through an Environmental Management Program. It cost BP 15-million to implement this type of program. Along with that, the state of Alaska statutes allows a civil penalty of $100,000 along with $10,000 fine for everyday wherein the violation continued, and a class A misdemeanor. Besides this illegal activity, injection without a permit and in violation of AS 31.05.150, Pioneer is under indictment for not reporting events wherein natural gas was vented, considered waste and a penalty which garnishes 3-times the market value of the wasted gas and also under scrutiny for shipping Class I hazardous waste into its crude oil production line, which could make its way into the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline-System. In the end, Pioneer Natural Resources, a Texas based oil company and Alaska’s 1st Independent to brave the “North Slope” in competition with “Big Oil”, this corporation should be assessed the maximum penalty allowed by law, as a future deterrent! Anything less will indicate that the authorities are not doing their jobs!
For Our Environment ~ Uncovering Public Trust Doctrine Violators on Alaska's Frontier
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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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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