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Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, secs. 25.105-25.170 (1980). These
regulations are written only in terms of “plugging” the wells and
cleaning up “loose debris” and restoring the well sites to a
“generally level condition.” The AOGCC regulations do not set
forth or describe either specific or general DRR obligations of
oil companies relating to the extensive Prudhoe Bay oil
processing facilities not located at well drilling sites.
In 1972, in anticipation of oil production at Prudhoe Bay, a
joint Federal-State commission was established to study Alaska
land use issues. In 1979, the commission stated in its final
report that development activities in the Arctic “should not lead
to irreversible consequences” and that “areas impacted should be
capable of restoration to a natural state upon the completion of
development activities.” (Emphasis added.)
TAPS Right-Of-Way Provisions
In contrast to the generally vague language of the
DL-1 Leases relating to oil company DRR obligations in the
Prudhoe Bay oil field, language in the TAPS right-of-way
provisions relating to DRR obligations of the oil companies which
constructed and which operate TAPS is more specific. As
explained, TAPS was constructed, and operates today, under lease
rights-of-way granted in 1974 by the Federal and Alaska State
Governments to a group of seven pipeline companies, which include
subsidiaries of Exxon, ARCO, and BP. The Federal and Alaska
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