TAPS: Supporting Alaska

A recent opinion column in the Alaska Dispatch News, submitted by staff of Alaska's former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel, takes a look at TAPS at 40, the political and physical efforts that led to its construction and how it is positioned for the future of Alaska.

The writers note, "Oil first flowed south to Valdez on June 20, 1977. Forty years later, it is still the superpower among economic drivers for Alaska. But looking at the pipeline's role today, it's as though the coin has turned. Cause and effect have changed places. …

"Forty years out, it's important to remember how the pipeline came into existence. Alaskans are 'can-do' people. But the actual building of the pipeline was by no means inevitable. …

"Forty years later, it may look like ancient history and it may seem like the pipeline was inevitable. But in truth it could have turned out differently. Alaska and the scope of opportunity it has come to take for granted could have been radically constrained."

The writers include Campbell Gardett, who served as Sen. Mike Gravel's press secretary; William Hoffman, who was Gravel's legislative director; Jim Palmer, who was his office and staff manager; and former State Sen. Mike Szymanski, who previously served as Sen. Gravel's Fairbanks representative.

Click here to read the column.

Within the pantheon of pipeline pop culture – the references to TAPS in movies, documentaries, music and more – there is a thick paperback called "Pipeline: A Novel."

Published in 1976, penned by a man named Milt Machlin, the novel promises a story of "big oil," "big money," and "the scandal of a century." Whether it ever lived up to its lofty storyline is debatable. With only a single-star rating on Amazon and one lone post from an unimpressed reader, it doesn’t appear "Pipeline" garnered much acclaim.

"This is the biggest piece of drivel I have read in my life," an offended reader wrote on the book's Amazon page, "and I read a lot of books. There is so little truth to this story as to be laughable." The citizen critic, a self-described grandmother with family who work on the Slope, said the sensational book was "tantamount to defiling a national monument. … This book is TRASH."

It wouldn't be the first time TAPS is, well, imaginatively trashed for sake of storytelling. The pipeline is famously featured in the generally panned vampire flick "30 Days of Night," in fact providing a pivotal plot point: the good guys take advantage of an oil spill from the line, lighting it on fire to fend off the vampire attackers.

In "The Simpsons Movie," the Simpson family is treated with a $1,000 check upon entering Alaska, told it's essentially a payoff from oil companies so they can "ravage" the state. Ouch. The industry is also broadly featured in Steven Seagal's 1994 macho movie "On Deadly Ground," in fact opening with Seagal – both director and star – rushing to fight an oil rig fire. The movie even filmed on location in Valdez. It also made Siskel and Ebert's list of the 10 worst movies of the year.

A few years ago, when Nate Carson was finishing his master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Auburn in Alabama, he figured his dream of working in his home state of Alaska was just that – a dream. There were just too many uncertainties surrounding Alaska's oil industry, economy and job market, he thought.

Around that time, an old family friend told him about an opportunity at an Alaska company that Nate was very familiar with: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, where his dad Bob Carson has worked at for 17 years, currently as a Lab Manager.

That family friend is Alan Beckett, another longtime Alyeska employee who was Operation & Maintenance Engineering Manager at the time. Now Alyeska's Mechanical Integrity Manager, Alan knew that Nate would be a perfect fit at Alyeska.

"His grad school experience was a strong validation that he had the necessary skills to succeed and, having seen him grow up, I also knew that he had integrity, a strong work ethic and that he's an outdoors guy," explained Alan, who was part of Nate's interviewing process but stepped aside for the final hiring decision. "And when you come from a TAPS family, you just learn about the pipe."

While Nate's Alyeska career is just starting, his dad has held numerous roles in Analytical Lab Services for Alyeska. Bob admitted that he has taken the TAPS and Alyeska experience home with him over the years and also said he isn’t surprised that it rubbed off on his son.

You might say that Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and R&M Consultants grew up, and helped build TAPS, together.

In 1968, Ralph Migliaccio was a research geologist and associate professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. About that time, the Trans Alaska Pipeline System consulted Migliaccio on certain geological points concerning the proposed oil pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez. It wasn't long before TAPS began leaning so heavily on Migliaccio's service that he was forced to make a choice – either remain with the university or become a full-time consultant. He chose the latter and formed R&M Geological Consultants as a one-man firm in 1969.

As TAPS celebrates 40 years of operations, R&M's Andrea Story, Vice President – Marketing and Business Development, shares the equally historic evolution and Alaska legacy of her organization.

What has the success of TAPS meant to R&M Consultants?
"R&M was founded because of TAPS, and owe our 48-year history in the state to its construction. Our geotechnical work on TAPS led to R&M providing design, survey and construction supervision of the original 56 miles of the Alyeska Pipeline Haul Road, what is now known as the Dalton Highway. This particular section, extending from the Elliott Highway near Livengood north to the Yukon River, followed a design-build approach that left no time for conventional design approaches."

"Project design was initiated in June 1969, and construction engineering work was virtually completed in just over four months. This project led to R&M's long and ongoing relationship with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. 48 years later, R&M continues to work on the Dalton Highway – most recently providing professional services for the reconstruction of MP 18-37."

Glamorous isn't a word associated with the construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. But one of the world's most famous, talented and, yes, fabulous stars of the '70s brought TAPS construction to the bright lights of Hollywood.

Gladys Knight is best known as the "Empress of Soul," a seven-time Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Motown fixture who sang R&B and pop classics like "Midnight Train to Georgia," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "That's What Friends Are For." Less known is Knight's work as an actress. At the peak of her popularity, she made her acting debut as the featured star in 1976's "Pipe Dreams." It's one glorious example of the variety of pop culture treasures inspired by the Trans Alaska Pipeline System.

Set during the wild TAPS construction days, Knight plays Maria Wilson in "Pipe Dreams." Amazon.com's review sums up the film's plot: "Singing star Gladys Knight and her real-life husband, Barry Hankerson, play a couple trying to repair their broken marriage in this highly dramatic romantic adventure set against the background of the Alaskan pipeline. Hankerson must decide between reuniting with Knight or going against her wishes by giving in to the corrupt pressure of the local political boss. Knight is outstanding in her acting debut, and the soundtrack features music performed by Knight and her group, The Pips. Don't miss this incredible love story set in the spectacular landscape of Alaska!"

New York Times reviewer Vincent Canby added: "'Pipe Dreams' (is) the first film I've seen that uses the building of the Alaskan pipeline as an essential part of its action. The film … is set in Valdez, Alaska, effectively portrayed as a frozen frontier community of well-heeled, lonely construction workers and the whores and confidence artists who are after their loot."

During his 20-plus years working on TAPS, Larry Motschenbacher experienced firsthand how critical communication was to safety and success along the 800-mile pipeline.

Now as an Alyeska retiree living in Boise, Idaho, Larry Mots – as he's known to friends – still appreciates the importance of communication between Alyeska workers, present and past, near and far. Communication is at the heart of his website, www.alyeskapipelinepeople.com, where more than 350 members share their stories and memories, photos and videos, obituaries and contact information.

"I just feel glad that I can provide this vehicle for people to connect and touch base," Larry said. "I can tell by the number of people who check the site often that it holds importance in their lives and that what's going on with other people's lives is important to them, too."

Larry, 71, is the site's mastermind, webmaster and lone funder. He spends more than 10 hours a week maintaining it and conversing with its visitors. It launched in December 2013 with just a few close Alyeska friends and fellow retirees like Ben Holeman and Bill Howitt joining him as members. "I thought even if it was just us it would be fun," Larry said.

Today, the site's members include current and former Alyeska staff and retirees who live in more than half of America's states and around the world in countries like Germany, Mexico, Peru, Thailand and the United Kingdom. It's also a place where friends and family members of TAPS workers and Alyeska staff gravitate to share memories and updates, happy or sad, of their loved ones.

"I'm a connector, perhaps," he said. "I've never advertised but people find us. I get letters from people around the world who want to get in touch with someone or commemorate someone who has passed away. It makes me feel much more responsible for doing a great job and getting the information right."

This work is important for Larry, who proudly said he personally worked with some of the site's members during his time on TAPS. In the early days of the North Slope oil boom, he completed geophysical surveys in the growing Deadhorse area.