[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 145 (Tuesday, November 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE SAFETY OF THE TRANS-ALASKA OIL PIPELINE

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I am not sure of what the remainder 
of the Senate schedule might be for this week, but my own tenure in 
this body is somewhat limited as a consequence of my election to the 
Governorship in the State of Alaska. So with the permission of the 
Presiding Officer--and I have checked with the Parliamentarian--we have 
the opportunity to address matters in our short remaining time.
  I would like to share with my colleagues an earthquake that occurred 
in my State of Alaska just a little over a week ago. It registered 7.9 
on the Richter Scale, which is a very high earthquake.
  My wife and I happened to be at mass during the earthquake, and not 
only did the chandeliers move from side to side, but the crucifix, 
hanging by a brass chain, began to move very dramatically, and it was 
almost as if the sign of the cross was moving across the agenda.
  It happened to be a Korean service in a Catholic Church in Anchorage, 
and I must say, the magnitude of the earthquake was matched by the 
magnitude of the Korean priest who did not break stride in his sermon. 
On the other hand, it was in Korean, and my Korean is a little rusty. 
But no one moved from the church. Heads went down. And I admired the 
priest.
  My purpose in bringing this matter up is to share with you a 
recognition of concern that has been expressed in this body for some 
time; and that is the safety of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline which 
covers some 800 miles from the North Slope of Prudhoe Bay to the city 
of Valdez where the oil is shipped in U.S. tankers and moved down the 
west coast.
  The significance of this earthquake along this 800-mile pipeline was 
that no damage was done in spite of the 7.9 magnitude. Dealing with the 
potential for earthquakes in the design was a consideration some 30 
years ago, that the line itself should be designed to withstand an 8.0 
magnitude earthquake. I want my colleagues to know that the line held a 
7.9 tremor quite nicely. As a matter of fact, immediately after the 
quake rocked interior Alaska, the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez 
was shut down as a precaution and inspected.
  The massive quake did do some damage. There were a few supports which 
were quickly repaired. The line slowly was refilled and put back into 
service. But the significance was that there were no breaks. In fact, 
the damage was minimal for the size of the quake which did destroy some 
roads, damage some bridges, other structures. But the best news is not 
one cup of oil was spilled, despite the magnitude of the quake--not one 
single cupful.
  There are those who claim the line has been poorly maintained; those 
who say it is dangerously old, beyond its prime. I hope they will 
reconsider, recognizing what happened under a real test.
  What can they say? The line performed as it was designed and 
engineered to perform. It is quite timely as this comes at a time when 
we have in the House and Senate conference the issue of opening up ANWR 
to oil exploration. It has been a significant issue among the 
environmentalists. It has pitted Republican against Democrat and 
Republican against Republican, Democrat against Democrat. As we 
contemplate action in Iraq, we should reflect on the realization that 
we have done a pretty good job of producing energy here at home and, 
given the opportunity, we can do much better if we are fortunate enough 
to get an energy bill and get ANWR included in that.
  This comes at a time when Alaskans' dreams of opening the Arctic 
National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration are being rekindled by huge 
Republican gains nationally in Tuesday's elections.
  The GOP is in control of the House and the Senate, and Democrats who 
are beholden to environmentalists and have blocked ANWR will have a 
more difficult time turning their backs on U.S. energy independence and 
national security.
  I hope as I leave this body in the next few days that my State of 
Alaska will get a fair hearing on the ANWR issue because people in my 
State for years have been saying oil exploration and development can be 
done and in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. Prudhoe Bay 
and other North Slope oilfields' records provide the best proof that 
the assertion is true that we can develop these resources safely here 
at home. I think Sunday's earthquake was further evidence.

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