[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16625]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, on June 20, 1977--30 years ago to this 
day--oil began flowing through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. This 
event represents an important milestone in Alaska's history and a 
watershed moment in our struggle to secure America's energy 
independence.
  My distinguished colleague from Alaska, Senator Lisa Murkowski, spoke 
at length about the history of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline before we 
adjourned last night. As she so vividly illustrated, its creation was a 
monumental undertaking which required the hard work of countless 
individuals.
  During the long political fight to allow this important project to 
proceed, members of the environmental lobby claimed the pipeline would 
devastate Alaska. History has proven these critics wrong--responsible 
development and attentive stewardship have ensured the continued 
protection of our State's wildlife and lands.
  Even after the Arab oil embargo in 1973, the Senate remained closely 
divided on this matter. In fact, a tie vote on the authorizing 
legislation was not broken until Vice President Spiro Agnew cast the 
decisive vote in its favor. My own vote on that bill still ranks as one 
of the most memorable I have ever cast.
  When construction began in 1974, this project was the largest ever 
financed by private capital. Engineers faced staggering challenges as 
they plotted a route across 800 miles of rugged terrain and three major 
mountain ranges. Various geographic hurdles also necessitated the 
construction of seven airfields, dozens of bridges, and a 360-mile-long 
road to connect Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks.
  Just more than 3 years after construction started, however, the 
Trans-Alaska Pipeline was ready to operate. Since then, more than 15.5 
billion barrels of crude oil have been sent from Alaska's North Slope, 
through the pipeline to Valdez, and on to refineries throughout the 
country.
  The revenues generated by this production have had a tremendous 
impact in Alaska and throughout the United States. Over the past 30 
years, North Slope oil production has added more than $300 billion to 
the U.S. economy and reduced domestic oil imports by more than $200 
billion. Energy will always cost money, but instead of sending our 
dollars overseas, North Slope oil production--made possible by the 
Trans-Alaska Pipeline--has greatly contributed to economic growth here 
at home.
  In Alaska, the economic effects of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline are even 
more apparent. Last year, revenues from oil production and 
transportation accounted for nearly 90 percent of the State 
government's total income--funds which were then used to help pay for 
our schools, our roads, and other important projects. North Slope oil 
revenue also provides the foundation for the permanent fund dividend, 
which will help assure the well-being of future generations of 
Alaskans.
  When oil began to flow through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977, 
gasoline cost a mere 38 cents per gallon. Today, the nationwide average 
has soared to $3.00 per gallon, and many experts predict this price 
will reach $4.00 by the end of summer.
  As those of us in the Senate continue to debate a comprehensive 
energy policy for our Nation, we must take note of the consequences of 
30 years of oil production in Alaska. Instead of the ecological 
disaster many predicted, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline has been an economic 
lifeline for our Nation. It continues to prove we can balance 
environmental concerns with the production of our natural resources. I 
urge my colleagues to heed this lesson.

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