PUBLIC NOTICE
State of Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation

An application for amendment of an Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan has been received by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (department) for review under Alaska Statute 46.04.030 and Alaska Administrative Code 18 AAC 75.  The details are as follows: 

Applicant:  Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
                  3800 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 100
                  Anchorage, AK  99503  

Proposed Activity: Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) has submitted an application for amendment of the Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan for Cook Inlet Production Facilities, Plan Number 12-CP-2008.  The amendment increases the response planning standard (RPS) volume from 2,520 barrels to 75,000 barrels for Hilcorp’s crude oil production wells in anticipation of increased production rates from wells that may flow without assisted lift.  The amendment contains revisions to the winter and summer blowout scenarios to demonstrate a response to the increased RPS volume. There are revisions to the tank table to add numerous portable tanks primarily used for diesel-based drilling mud/hydrocarbons.  There is a revision to the Swanson River Pipeline rupture scenario, and additional revisions are noted in the cover page submitted with the amendment application.           

Potential Results: A potential risk of oil spills entering the lands or waters of the state exists from this operation. 

Location of Activity: Onshore facilities located on the west side of Cook Inlet, the Trading Bay Production Facility and Granite Point Tank Farm, are used to support crude oil production operations from offshore platforms.  Onshore facilities located on the east side of Cook Inlet, the Swanson River Field (production facilities) and Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Production Facility, are used to support crude oil production operations from onshore wells in the Swanson River Field and Beaver Creek.  The Swanson River Pipeline, an 18.8-mile crude oil transmission pipeline, extends from the Swanson River Oil Field; about 20 miles north of Sterling, to the Kenai Pipeline Company’s Nikiski Terminal located 12 miles north of Kenai. The Swanson River Pipeline, production facilities, and production wells; Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Production Facility and production wells; and Wolf Lake and West Fork production wells are located in the Kenai Wildlife Refuge.  

Activity identified as: State Contingency Plan Number 12-CP-2008, Cook Inlet Production Facilities, Major Amendment.

To provide comments regarding this amendment application, write to Mike Evans, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response, Industry Preparedness Program, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, by facsimile to (907) 269-7687 or to mike.evans@alaska.gov.  The comment period opens December 6, 2013 and will extend for 30 days to January 6, 2014.  Requests for additional information must be received by December 30, 2013.  The comment period may be extended in accordance with 18 AAC 75.455.  Copies of the amendment application and plan are available for public review at the department’s Anchorage and Soldotna offices.

The department will hold a public hearing on the plan application if it determines that good cause exists.  Residents in the affected area or the governing body of an affected municipality may request a public hearing by writing to the department at the above address prior to January 6, 2014. 

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Deborah Pock at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

This public notice can be viewed on the department website at www.dec.state.ak.us