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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 15109
[Environmental]
Date Posted:
3/11/2006
11:11:29 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,348
RSS: 12,930
Comments: 7
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Alaska Hit By 'Massive' Oil Spill
Author: BBC News
Title: ALASKA HIT BY 'MASSIVE' OIL SPILL
An oil spill discovered at Prudhoe Bay field is the largest ever on Alaska's North Slope region, US officials say.
They estimate that up to 267,000 gallons (one million litres) of crude leaked from a corroded transit pipeline at the state's northern tip.
The spill was detected on 2 March and plugged. Local environmentalists have described it as "a catastrophe".
The spill covers about two acres (one hectare) of the snow-covered tundra in the sparsely-populated region on Alaska's north coast, some 1,040km (650 miles) north of the state's biggest city, Anchorage.
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Community Thoughts: There are 7 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Some Things To Consider | Mar 11th. at 11:16:19 pm EST
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hedgewytch (Prince William Sound, Alaska) - Email Me
The crude running through the pipeline is hot. The folks at Prudhoe don't know how long the pipe was leaking. Hot oil goes onto the snow and ice, then goes under it. Under ideal circumstances there would be enough permafrost and ice to keep the oil from seeping into the tundra before thay can suck most of it up. Its not an ideal situation right now. Winter has been pretty warm, we've been having perma-frost melting due to global warming over the past decade at least.
When you consider that one pint of oil can contaminate over 250,000 gallons of water, then this spill has the potential to be extremely devestating on th ecology of the area. Though the spill may have only covered two acres, there is really no way of telling how far the oil has seeped.
What's going to happen come spring when the everything melts and the birds come in to nest? Even a faint sheen of oil on the water could be enough to kill the insects that the birds require to feed their young.
One potential positive about this spill is that it serves as a reminder that resource development is not fool proof. Perhaps people will consider Prudhoe Bay operations when they decide how to vote on ANWR development.
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| No Comparison | Mar 11th. at 2:15:27 pm EST
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ParrotPilot (Ocean Springs, Mississippi) - Email Me
I like the fact that the reporter took the time to add actual numbers to the story. The bottom line is that this is about 3% of the amount of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez. It covers only 2 acres of ground, not a thousand miles of beaches. Should be a simple matter to clean up. I don't know that I would agree that this is a "catastrophe."
Mike
Hanging loose in Hurrican Katrina land
"Now THAT'S a catastrophe."
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| The Scars Will Remain Once The Cleanup Is Done | Mar 11th. at 1:34:12 pm EST
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
Another one? So who was driving this time?
What bothers me is how much is wasted when they spill oil anywhere, and it isn't just the oil.
Oddly, I am not again getting the resources needed- but I am against the messes they leave behind for everyone else to deal with when things go wrong. And believe me- that's a lot of messes!
Winter or not-- the land will be scarred for a very long time.
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| I Really Appreciate | Mar 11th. at 12:49:12 pm EST
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Candleberry (Port Angeles, Alaska) - Email Me
the fact that I learn about so many local event via the BBC.
The one good thing about this spill is that it happen during the winter. The ground is still frozen solid with plenty of snow cover. So all they have to do is scoop up the snow and oil.
Now if the don't do too much damage to the tundra why they are scooping up the snow and oil. Somehow, I got a bad feeling about this.
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| Future Is Now!!! | Mar 11th. at 12:46:39 pm EST
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
"Supporters of drilling in Alaska say it offers an alternative source of energy to the Middle East and so would improve national security."
Right, when the Arabs start buying, we start selling.
1,000 Cu-m / 8,000 sq-m = an average depth of 1/8 meters. 5" wasn't running away very quickly, but that's still pretty liquid for an Arctic Evening.
When the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Lt. Bligh Reef, named for the future Capt. Bligh, the beaches most damaged were the ones most cleaned. Let's leave what isn't worth gleaning, and see how Gaia deals with Clean-up. I'm sure this isn't the first Petroleum she's seen, and Human Urgency is usually the worst of Ecotastrophes.
Why is there internal Corrosion of a Petroleum Pipe? That should be a reductive environment. I hope this doesn't mean they used Stainless Steel...
Arawn
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