An application for amendment of an Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan has been received by the Department of Environmental Conservation for review under Alaska Statute 46.04.030 and Alaska Administrative Code 18 AAC 75. The details are as follows:
Applicant:
Great Bear Petroleum Operating LLC
601West 5th Avenue, Suite 505
Anchorage, AK 99501
Proposed Activity: Amendment of the Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan to demonstrate the applicant's ability to address oil spill prevention and response measures for exploration drilling of a winter test well, accessible by ice roads, drilled horizontally through a conventional reservoir interval. The additional scenario depicts a response to a winter well blowout equal to the response planning standard of 5,500 barrels per day for 15 days.
Potential Results: A potential risk of oil spills entering the lands or waters of the state exists from this operation.
Location of Activity: Exploration wells located 30-40 miles south of the Prudhoe Bay Unit, within 4 miles of the Dalton Highway, and near or within the western side of the Sagavanirktok River floodplain.
Activity identified as: State Contingency Plan Number 12-CP-5191, Major Amendment
To provide comments regarding this application, write to Sunny Foster, Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response, Exploration, Production and Refineries Section, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, by facsimile to (907) 269-7687 or to sunny.foster@alaska.gov. The comment period opens January 29, 2015 and will extend for 30 days to February 27, 2015. Requests for additional information must be received by February23, 2015. The comment period may be extended in accordance with 18 AAC 75.455. Copies of the application and plan are available for public review at the department's offices at the above listed address and in Fairbanks, Alaska.
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 of Environmental Conservation at the above address prior to February 27, 2015.
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 Natalie Wolfe at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 prior to February 27, 2015 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
This public notice can be viewed on the department’s website at www.dec.alaska.gov.