| Office of the Secretary |
Contact: Mark Pfeifle (Secretary's Office)202-208-6416 |
| For Immediate Release: Jan. 8, 2003 |
Henri Bisson (BLM-Alaska State Director 907-271-5080
|
Secretary Norton Renews Trans-Alaska Pipeline Right of Way
-- TAPS will provide energy and economic security for future generations --
(WASHINGTON)-- Interior Secretary Gale Norton today renewed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Right-of-Way (ROW) Federal Agreement and Grant for 30 years. The renewal becomes effective when the current ROW Agreement and Grant expires on January 23, 2004.
"The 30-year renewal follows completion of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing renewal options. This action provides a high degree of certainty that the TAPS will continue to operate safely for many years to come," said Secretary Norton. "Renewing the pipeline will go a long way toward ensuring energy and economic security for our nation for the next three decades."
The signing ceremony was held at the South Interior Building in Washington, D.C. The decisional signing was the culmination of more than 18 months of analyzing the renewal's economic, social and environmental impacts.
The TAPS is a major component of the President's National Energy Plan, transporting 17 percent of the nation's domestic oil production. The pipeline is 800 miles: 427 miles are located on federal land; 344 miles are located on state land; and 29 miles are located on private land.
The State of Alaska renewed its ROW lease on Nov. 26, 2002 for 30 years.
Secretary Norton based the renewal determination on documents that included the following:
· FEIS for Renewal of the Federal Grant for TAPS ROW
· Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act (TAPAA) that evaluated regulatory and legal requirements of renewal
· Grant and Lease Compliance Report
· TAPS Maintenance and Sustained Useful Life Report
· Condition of the TAPS Report
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