Overhaul of state spill planning?
State Dept. of Environmental Conservation commissioner Jason Brune has launched a review of Alaska’s oil spill prevention and response rules and is seeking public comment in an initial phase. Alaska has had the strictest spill rules in the nation since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound and it is possible the spill program has become outdated and cumbersome, that its costs of compliance do not yield appropriate environmental benefits, and that it needs an update. The program is based on requirements for detailed spill contingency plans and periodic cleanup demonstration exercises. Initially the response plan was focused on large crude oil tankers but in recent years fuel oil transporters and distributors have been included.

Hilcorp’s financial resources
Hilcorp Energy is coming under scrutiny on its Prudhoe Bay acquisition from BP as regulatory proceedings get underway on the deal. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska, which has certain jurisdiction over the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, is taking public comments on the transfer of BP’s share of TAPS to Hilcorp. Citizen groups are pushing for disclosure of financial information Hilcorp has filed with agencies, which the company has asked to be kept confidential. Public interest groups including the Alaska Public Interest Research Group say the information should be public so Hilcorp’s ability to fund an oil spill cleanup could be verified.