Offshore oil regulators hear concerns with Arctic drilling

There's never been a major offshore oil spill in the Arctic but the lack of real-world experience doesn't mean a broad range of experts can't agree on one fundamental thing: if there is one, you're definitely screwed.

Officials from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement hosted an offshore oil drilling forum in Anchorage on Thursday and listened to a raft of panelists describe a range of problems, conditions and dynamics that would impede if not outright thwart efforts to clean up a sizeable oil spill off the northern Alaska coast, especially in the winter.

As consultant Leslie Pearson put it: "You have to recognize that there will be times when nothing can be done."

First, there's the equipment, either not enough of it or not the right technology, and definitely not in the right place. Some is stockpiled at North Slope drilling sites. But more would be needed, and bringing it in from other places is a problem, too. There are few places to land an aircraft large enough to carry substantial loads of cleanup gear and machinery. There are no docks that can accommodate larger vessels.

There are few vessels capable of working an offshore Arctic spill, no ice-breaking response boats. The Coast Guard generally takes charge of an offshore spill, but the nearest base is 1,000 miles away in Kodiak. If there's ice, the Coast Guard says it has no boats capable of responding to a spill.

Then there are the rules. The oil companies have long said they need to be able to use dispersants and other cleanup practices like in-situ burning. But the rules require dispersants and burning be approved on a case-by-case basis. In the past, that approval has often come too late.

The science is also lacking, not only in terms of what works in very cold conditions but also when it comes to what the impacts of a major Arctic spill would be. That makes it difficult for federal regulators to decide whether a drilling project should be permitted, especially in an area where whales migrate through the industry's prime exploration area. That doesn't thrill a lot of Alaska Natives whose villages depend on a good whaling season for subsistence, as well as cultural reasons.

But mainly, experts returned again and again to the harsh environment oil spill responders would face. Small mountains of sea ice. Raging blizzards. Extreme cold. Perpetual darkness.

BOEM: Too tough or not tough enough?

Michael Bromwich, the relatively new director of the BOEM, moderated the panel presentations and explained that the information would be useful in helping the Obama Administration decide whether to lift a moratorium on deepwater drilling that has been in place since July.

At a press conference Thursday, Bromwich reiterated that there is no moratorium on offshore drilling in Alaska, but the agency wanted to learn more about oil spill prevention measures, such as blowout-prevention devices and other techniques, along with issues that concern people involved with or affected by oil development in the Arctic.

A number of panelists expressed concern about Bromwich's agency. It's either too tough or not tough enough, depending on your particular interest.

"In Alaska your agency hasn't seriously listened to local communities, and we need to change that," North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta told Bromwich.

The northern villagers have lived for decades with oil development onshore, but offshore poses new issues.

"Without a doubt, it makes us nervous," Itta said.

More problematic for Itta and others at the forum was their sense that the Minerals Management Service, BOEM's predecessor, was in lockstep with industry, and not willing to address environmental and community concerns. Lawsuits were necessary to stop lease sales and drilling programs. And even then, Itta said, "We're still not sure we have the agency's attention."

"Hear this message as a plea for help," he said. "I'm not trying to drive a wedge between us."

At the press conference, Bromwich emphasized the agency's renewed commitment to tough environmental regulation, saying he recognizes there has been a lot of concern over MMS's management of the oil and gas industry. He said widespread change at the agency from the top down would play out in Alaska as well.