The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated a 15-day scoping period for a proposed 30-year renewal of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System’s federal right-of-way. The current authorization is not set to expire until 2034, but the pipeline operator, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, has requested an early renewal.
The 800-mile pipeline transports oil from Alaska’s North Slope to the Valdez Marine Terminal. The BLM is preparing an environmental assessment for the renewal, which the agency states will ensure decades more of oil transport, contributing to “American energy and economic security.”
Environmental critics express concern that the shortened review period may limit scrutiny of climate impacts, the pipeline’s aging infrastructure, and risks associated with thawing permafrost. They argue that the pipeline was initially expected to operate for about 30 years, and current analyses may not fully address climate impacts or permafrost risks.
Source: Down To Earth