Oil firm accused of improper Slope waste disposal

According to the Anchorage Daily News, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has hired an independent investigator to look into a litany of allegations, including waste dumping, wildlife infractions and lease violations, concerning operations at Oooguruk, a North Slope oil field run by Texas-based Pioneer Natural Resources. The state hired the third party to investigate because the AOGCC found that investigating itself in the matter would be a conflict of interest. Significantly, Oooguruk, in operation since 2008, is the only North Slope field not being operated by a major oil company. Read much more, here.