Betsy Haines, President
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Subject: Suggestion
Ever think about
a new Alyeska Pipeline Service Company “motto”? Like in “Run Like Hell”? I mean
Alyeska posted this “Run Like Hell” in its “Memories & Milepost”
fascination back in 2007, when you were climbing your way up the corporate poop
chute. Here is what your company posted:
Rod: In heavy snow
years – and there were a lot – they would wash the snow off of the roofs of the
Valdez OCC from the firewater system on Terminal. Roy Hansen had put a
special “snow load” measuring device: it was a tape measure mounted to the
ceiling in the HVAC room. It would show the sag of the roof. It had
special markings every few inches, with the most extreme saying “RUN!” when we
hit 12 inches of sag.
Kevin: One
year, a controller went back in the server room after a typical Valdez
snowstorm and the tape measure had pushed down about an inch below the shovel
roof mark. They called the engineer to report it and he said, “Run like hell!”
The SCADA Tech drew a new line on the wall at the bottom of the tape measure
and labeled it, “Run like hell.”
But the shoe
seems to fit this “Run Like Hell” sentiment some more, even a better fit today.
And that is exactly what Alyeska did, “Run Like Hell” when a dedicated minority
of Alyeska workers in the 80s risked their careers and livelihoods to get
attention upon the drunk tanker crews that were being allowed through the Dayville
Road “Security Checkpoint” at the Alyeska Valdez Marine Terminal. Yes, easy
access when under-the-influence let someone else do the driving, when protected
away in that Valdez town taxi bringing an inebriated crew back to an awaiting
tanker filled with crude oil. Engines running, just waiting for the captain to
board, or being carried aboard by Alyeska able-bodied workers called upon to
assist - drop everything else we were doing to maintain the VMT, due to a crew
of misfits having the luxury to indulge in a little too much booze and then allowed
to set sail into Prince William Sound. Yes, a few dedicated workers that went
tired of being called upon by the Alyeska management to help those drunk
bastards get from the taxi to the tanker along the “restricted” loading berth’s
causeway. Well enough was enough and we decided to form a “Union” when Alyeska did
the “Run” away, from doing anything to STOP that free-for-all binge drinking fascination
no one is looking, and then Alyeska did the “Run Like Hell” when a “Union” was staring
George Nelson in the face, and that “Run Like Hell” initiated that “shoot the
messenger” mandate - to go after the “Union” supporters and then Joe Hazelwood
proved what happens when “Chicken Little” 5th Floor Bragaw Street runs
away from responsibility. Yes, pinch yourself that “Wreck” should have been
avoided, only Alyeska is of blame, as we spoke up against it and in the end many
of us found our careers silenced, for trying to STOP the drunks! But par for the course, Alyeska used that "Run Like Hell" back then, to avoid any responsibility. But getting
back to that “motto” that seems to fit Alyeska every which way but loose, “Run
Like Hell”! As it appears that motto is working again, with this “close call”
fiasco snow load ripping off safety vents on the crude storage tanks in Valdez,
a near miss YES. And I am glad to see that the ADEC is already testifying that event
generated toxic emissions in violation of the “Clean Air Act”. Hey, isn’t Alyeska
still contesting a major OSHA “Clean Air Act” violation, listed as “serious”
from back in 2020, when you were the VP of the “Operations & Maintenance”.
Way to go, good luck now that it appears Alyeska will be in that “repeat
offender” category. So please consider adopting that “RUN LIKE HELL” as a motto
of the corporate irresponsibility that we are seeing played out all over again,
some 45-years and Alyeska is still not getting it right. I mean, a company that
can’t even shovel snow should not be allowed to run a pipeline!
Mike Kelley –
Silenced by the Lame
