July 8, 1999

The Honorable Bruce Babbitt
Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Secretary Babbitt:

During my tenure as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I spent considerable effort investigating and resolving numerous issues pertaining to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The result of the Committee’s 1993 investigation, as well as those of a variety of other sources, found serious operational and management problems with TAPS requiring serious attention. During the 103rd Congress, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations -- which I chaired at that time -- held two major hearings to address these matters (see July 14, 1993 hearing, and November 10, 1993 hearing, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Energy and Commerce Committee). Alyeska, its owners, and the Joint Pipeline Office (JPO), made specific commitments to address these concerns, including both the hardware issues, and the so-called "culture" that punished workers for attempting to report maintenance issues.

Over the past several years, Alyeska’s management has reported to me on several occasions that considerable progress has been made in addressing these problems. Nevertheless, because I no longer chair either the full Committee or the Subcommittee that conducted these investigations, I have no independent method for verifying that all serious hardware issues have been resolved. I also have no way to independently assess that the culture of worker intimidation has indeed improved.

During the past several months, some complaints have been made to me regarding certain components of the pipeline as well as the worker environment Alyeska’s management made commitments to correct. I do not know the validity of these allegations, nor can I easily assess their credibility. Nevertheless, because the Department of the Interior through the JPO has the principal jurisdiction over TAPS, I am asking that you provide me with a written update on Alyeska’s progress to date regarding the matters identified in the aforementioned hearings generally, and the following areas specifically:

(1) Worker Culture: Has the culture of harassment and intimidation that existed for some workers attempting to report and correct hardware and other safety issues improved since the 1993 hearings? What is the status of this issue, and what steps has Alyeska taken to address this concern?

(2) Marine Terminal Tanker Vapor Recovery System: As I have had the most specific complaints regarding this system, please determine: (a) what historically have been the complaints regarding this system, and (b) have such complaints been valid. Finally, is the system now operating safely today?

(3) Hardware, Electrical, and Mechanical Issues: During previous hearings, very significant electrical and/or other hardware issues were identified by Alyeska, and a range of outside contractors. Some of these were serious conditions that if left unresolved could cause a catastrophic event to the system. Please update me on the progress of the many issues that were identified in this area. Also, what serious issues (if any) still remain?

Finally, if there are any other serious issues you believe may present a hazard to the safe operation of TAPS, or its workers, please identify them in your response. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

JOHN D. DINGELL
RANKING MEMBER

cc: Mr. Robert Malone