C. Rights-of-way across private lands.

This Department believes it has no jurisdiction over such lands and therefore will not undertake to issue any rights-of-way over them for the ANGTS. If the General Services Administration, taking into account Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act, concludes that it has authority to sell the pipeline right-of-way or pipeline facilities thereon, this Department will defer to that conclusion.

We feel that this course of action will provide the most expeditious course of action by the Federal Government in accordance with the directives of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act and the President's Decision thereunder and at the same time protect the interests of the United States and the Alaskan Natives.

As I indicated at the beginning of the hearings on the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, I am providing you with some written questions. Your responses will be included in the record. The Subcommittee would appreciate answers to the following questions:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

In your opinion, is Northwest doing sufficient
engineering testing to settle the technical
questions associated with the alignment issue?

Section 28 (x) of the Mineral Leasing Act requires
that the Department of the Interior promulgate
regulations on pipeline liability. Have you issued
regulations? If not, when do you expect to issue
them? How will they change Alyeska's absolute
liability under the Trans Alaska Pipeline Act?

How much of the Alyeska workpad will be used?

The Subcommittee received testimony on October 15
which expressed concern over the proposed EEO/MBE
regulations. Does the Department have a cost
analysis of the impact of these regulations?

What arrangements have been made for the owners
of the TAPS line to review and comment on the
proposed criteria and construction plans?

October 23, 1979
Page two

It is requested that your response to these questions sent to the Subcommittee as soon as possible in order to make the complete hearing record available to the public in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

HAROLD RUNNELS

Chairman

Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee

jgh

I am enclosing, for your information and for inclusion in the record of the hearing on the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, answers to your questions as stated in your letter of October 23, 1979.

If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mr. Runnels:

Mr. Curlin:

In your opinion, is Northwest doing sufficient engineering testing to settle the technical questions associated with the alignment issue?

Northwest's engineering testing, both now and planned, is probably sufficient for settling most of the technical questions which control alignment. The current or future series of tests may indicate, however, that additional tests are required. One of the most difficult and important matters to be resolved will be the frost heave problem. The tremendous number of subsurface conditions which will be encountered, the long term over which frost heave can occur, and the lack of any past frost heave experience for a chilled gas line are major hinderances to the solution of this problem. Because this solution is critical for the design of a safe, reliable, economical pipeline, the Federal Inspector has asked the Corps of Engineers' technical specialists to set up a group of experts from government, and at some later date, from the private sector as well to analyze the problem. These experts are to provide advice on whether Northwest's solutions will work, and if necessary, to determine what additional work may be required to resolve them. It is important to understand that even though a guaranteed direct solution may not be achieved by engineering testing and analysis, a safe economical project may be built and operated using strategies of monitoring and preventative maintenance.

Of equal importance with an adequate and inovative testing program is the requirement for talented and experienced people to convert tests to usable solutions. Northwest has already hired an array of consultants who have Trans-Alaskan Pipeline experience and/or experience with Arctic Gas or other northern engineering projects. These firms include:

Fluor, Project Management Contractor

EPB Ltd. Frost Heave Consultant, Edmonton

Hardy and Associated, Frost Heave Consultants, Edmonton
R&M Consultants, Inc., Soil Testing and Engineering

Firm, Alaska

Gulf Interstate, Pipeline Engineering Firm, Houston
Michael Baker, Jr., Civil Engineering Firm

PMS. Geotechnical Consultants

Dr. Powell - Structural Consultant, University of
California

Dr. Newmark Structural/Seismic Consultant, University

of Illinois

Some of the testing which has been, or is being, conducted by the company which is specific to the alignment issue is:

- Blast testing completed in 1977 and 1978.

- Burst testing in England and in frozen ground this winter near Rainbow Lake in Alberta.

- Large scale frost heave testing near Fairbanks, Alaska.