Online Observer

Remembering Richard Fineberg

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This image shows the giant crude oil storage tanks at the Valdez Marine Terminal. The walls of the massive asphalt-lined cells can be seen surrounding the tanks in this photo.

Dr. Richard Fineberg, expert on the economics and profits of the oil industry in Alaska, passed away in September 2024. Fineberg was a researcher and investigative journalist who focused on environmental issues related to petroleum development and oil economics in Alaska.

Fineberg conducted studies and wrote reports for many organizations, including the Council. In the 1990s and early 2000s, his research for the Council ranged from ballast water treatment to industry profits to how the oil industry is required to restore the land once the terminal and pipeline are no longer in use.

“Richard was meticulous in verifying the accuracy of his work,” said Donna Schantz, executive director for the Council. “His thoroughness and attention to detail made his contributions invaluable to the important discussions around these topics.”

In 2005, Fineberg analyzed how much money the trans-Alaska pipeline and oil terminal facilities in Valdez were making for the oil companies. At the time, the oil industry was claiming that, due to financial reasons, they needed to reduce environmental protections and were unable to afford new protections.

In 2004, Fineberg published a study on how the oil companies would pay for cleaning up after the pipeline stops shipping oil.

According to the lease agreement between the Trans Alaska Pipeline System owners and the state and federal governments, industry is obligated to dismantle and remove all equipment and facilities and restore the land to a satisfactory condition. This includes all facilities at the Valdez Marine Terminal.

To pay for this cleanup, a tariff was imposed on oil flowing through the pipeline. Fineberg analyzed how much was collected by this complicated tariff, and whether enough would be available for its intended purpose when the pipeline eventually shuts down.

“Anyone who was fortunate enough to have worked with Richard knows that he was an exceptionally smart public servant who put in a tremendous amount of his time and energy into researching complex issues,” said Schantz. “His work helped improve safety of Alaska’s oil transportation industry.”

More on Fineberg’s work

Dr Fineberg had an extensive career that touched on many topics. Learn more:

Two of Fineberg’s reports are available on our website:

From Alyeska: Believe in Zero: Safety mindset helps prevent incidents

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By Brandon Kilian, SERVS Response Coordinator

Over the summer, Alyeska employees submitted examples of why they “Believe in Zero” – why they believe it is possible to operate TAPS without injuries, spills, or other incidents. Kilian detailed how the team put this mindset to work during a recent escort tug deployment. Photo: The tug Courageous performs a “U” boom formation in coordination with a smaller vessel.

At Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System, or SERVS, we believe in zero injuries or incidents every day. Working in a high-risk industry and marine environment, we not only strive to do better every day but also understand that all accidents are preventable through rigorous safety measures and a culture of vigilance. Mindsets are particularly critical in oil spill prevention and response, where the stakes for human safety and environmental health are exceedingly high.

Preventing spills requires many hours of instructor-led training, conducting exercises, meticulous equipment maintenance, state-of-the-art technology, and adherence to strict safety protocols. On average, SERVS performs more than 100 training exercises and deployments every year. One example, tug U and J boom deployments, are conducted in the Port of Valdez for each escort tug. These deployments are a collaborative effort between Alyeska and Edison Chouest Offshore team members.

Prior to the deployment, objectives, expectations, weather considerations, and other recreational activities within the port are discussed with the participating team members. Known and potential hazards are identified for mitigation efforts. The deployment involves all tug crew members, and each has a role for in the deployment’s success.

After the tug’s work boat is splashed and boom deployed, the tug and work boat communicate and coordinate speed and heading while the boom forms U and J shapes between boats. The tug and work boat are expected to hold their ‘U’ formation and perform several 90-degree turns, then maneuver into a ‘J’ formation. Once the ‘J’ formation is complete, a skimmer is deployed to the water to simulate product recovery. Once all the objectives of the exercise are met, the exercise is complete and the crew works to recover, clean, and stow the response equipment. Team members meet afterwards to discuss post-deployment comments, concerns, and learning opportunities.

SERVS conducts these training evolutions so that in the event of an actual spill, a swift and coordinated response can be executed to mitigate impact to wildlife and the environment. We don’t train until we get it right; we train until we can’t get it wrong. Success in these endeavors hinges on something we all know working on TAPS, and that is teamwork; every team member at SERVS is completely committed to safety, collaboration, and clear communication. By working together and holding one another accountable, we can effectively prevent incidents and respond decisively. SERVS embodies the true spirit of Believe in Zero and the constant safeguarding of both people and Prince William Sound.

Cathy Hart: Photographer focuses on fostering environmental stewardship

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Long-time Alaskan, and Council volunteer for over 16 years, Cathy Hart has always had a lot of different irons in a lot of different fires. Her passion for telling stories with photographs winds through almost everything she does, including her work on the Council’s Information and Education Committee.

Cathy Hart is a member of the Council’s Information and Education Committee. The committee supports the Council’s mission by fostering public awareness, responsibility, and participation through information and education. The committee sponsors projects such as Masters of Disaster, a special event for kids of all ages to learn about topics related to the Council’s mission. At a recent event, Hart (center) taught Kodiak students about oil spill response.

This passion ignited early, not long after her father’s job as an engineer in the oil industry moved the family to Alaska in the late 1960s. The teenaged Hart was exploring her new home state when she spotted an eagle.

“I watched him dive down and get something on the ground,” she recalls.

She was entranced and wanted to capture that moment. She soon got her first camera as a gift from her father.

She found she was good at capturing action shots. She photographed kids’ sports, theater, and dance, and sold the images. Her passion was for the outdoors though.

“Wildlife was always my true love.”

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Researchers find new non-native species in Prince William Sound

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Last year, researchers from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, or SERC, partnered with the Council to conduct the largest survey of non-native benthic marine invertebrate species in Prince William Sound since 2003.

The work is part of a larger survey being conducted by Dr. Gregory Ruiz and a team of researchers from SERC to document non-native species in ports and bays throughout the United States. The researchers have also recently surveyed in California, southeast Alaska, and other sites along the Pacific coast of the U.S. Researchers anticipate surveying Cook Inlet in 2025.

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