STATE OF ALASKA
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
STATE PIPELINE COORDINATOR’S OFFICE 

ANALYSIS AND PROPOSED DECISION
TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY LEASE AMENDMENT--ADL 63574
CATHODIC PROTECTION UPGRADES
PIPELINE MILEPOSTS 774.16 and 775.95

The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources received an application on May 9, 2013, from Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, agent for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) lessees, for a pipeline right-of-way lease amendment to add about 0.71 acres at two sites of state land near Thompson Pass, approximately 26 miles north of Valdez.  The additional lands are needed to make cathodic protection improvements along the TAPS mainline pipe. Improvements include the installation of new Anodeflex alongside an approximate total of 6,569 feet of mainline pipe in the existing TAPS right-of-way.   Drilled magnesium rods and junction boxes will be installed to support the Anodeflex and tie the systems into the new rectifier modules at each site. The purpose of the upgrades is to protect the integrity of TAPS by protecting the buried pipe from corrosion. 

The lands are generally described as: 

Site 1:  A site located at pipeline mile post (PLMP) 774.16 near the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Thompson Pass Maintenance Station located in SW4 Section 27, Township 8 South, Range 3 West, Copper River Meridian, within and adjacent to TAPS access road 6 APL-1A (ADL 206963) and extending from the TAPS right-of-way to a location within the ADOT&PF maintenance station (ADL 200032), containing approximately 0.6 acres. 

Site 2:  A site located at PLMP 775.95 near Richardson Highway milepost 20.3 within NE4 Section 4, Township 9 South, Range 3 West, Copper River Meridian, those lands adjacent to the TAPS right-of-way and the Richardson Highway right-of-way, containing approximately 0.11 acres.

In accordance with Alaska Statute 38.35.080, the Commissioner has prepared an analysis of the application and a proposed decision.  The public is invited to comment on the Analysis and Proposed Decision.  All comments must be submitted in writing to the State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office (SPCO) before 5:00 p.m. on July 22, 2013.

If public comment indicates the need for significant changes in the proposed decision, then additional public notice will be given on or about July 23, 2013.  If no significant change is required, then the proposed decision, including any minor changes, will be issued without further notice as the final decision of the Department of Natural Resources after July 22, 2013.

The public may obtain printed copies of these documents, at cost, from the SPCO.  The documents are also available at the SPCO website:  http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pco.

State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office
411 West 4th Avenue, Suite 2
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2343
Phone: (907) 269-6859
Fax: (907) 269-6880
Email: spco.records@alaska.gov

The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services, or special modifications to participate in this review may call (907) 269-8411 TTY/TDD.  Please provide sufficient notice in order for the Department to accommodate your needs.  The State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.  Please contact the SPCO for more information.

Frederick M. Thompson                                                         

Department of Natural Resources