The
Anchorage Daily News reports today that a pipeline leak-detection system sounded warnings on four straight days in the week leading up to last month's record North Slope oil spill, but field workers interpreted the signals as false alarms, a new investigative report says. I feel SO much better about the monitoring process....more below
State of Alaska and British Petroleum investigators found that:
"* A pipeline leak detector warned of a possible spill four times before March 2.
* Field workers interpreted alarms as false.
* The corroded spot where the pipeline hole developed had been known of since 1998. "
Their report "also suggests that the pipeline's leak- detection system is effective only in catching leaks that release large volumes of oil rapidly. It doesn't work well in detecting small, slow leaks that over time can result in large spills." The report does not place final blame for the spill.
The state's Department of Environmental Conservation is considering fines and/or charges against the company, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a criminal investigation.
The cleanup cost around $6 million, and AK DEC officials believe that long-term damage to the tundra will be slight.
The whole story is here.