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Statutory approaches toward whistle-blowing currently appear to be based on the assumption that most observers of wrongdoing will report it unless deterred from doing so by fear of retaliation. Yet our review of research from studies of whistle-blowing behavior suggests that this assumption is unwarranted. We propose that an alternative legislative approach would prove more successful in encouraging valid whistle-blowing and describe a model for such legislation that would increase self-monitoring of ethical behavior by organizations, with obvious benefits to society at large. A defense contractor's inspectors used improper calibration standards when inspecting missile parts and other military products, used noncertified inspectors when inspecting such products, and used employees without top-secret clearance to work on classified projects. This created potentially life-threatening products as well as potential compromises of military secrets. Quality-control officials on the Trans Alaska Pipeline were threatened with physical harm, demoted, and spied on in an effort to force them not to turn in negative reports or report problems. As a result, the likelihood of damaging oil spills due to improperly built and maintained equipment is heightened. A major corporation allegedly initiated an analysis of the cost savings that would result from circumventing or reducing compliance with health, safety and environmental standards. Two officers who objected to this noncompliance cost/benefit analysis were subsequently fired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses about the ecological consequences of the proposed Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a cross-country structure that would carry hot oil from the North Slope to the port of Valdez on the Gulf of Alaska. In this article, the author emphasizes the importance of protecting the Arctic from serious modifications. The author also stresses the importance to avoid disruption of the plant cover in the Arctic and to isolate man-induced thermal loads from permafrost to prevent thermal erosion.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of visiting the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the Alaskan Arctic.

Since 1977, oil produced in northern Alaska has posed a major environmental threat across large areas of Alaska while simultaneously playing a dominant role in the economy of Alaska. This enduring dilemma was created by the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to transport oil produced on the North Slope of Alaska, a region containing the largest oil field ever developed in North America. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System transports oil through an 800-mile pipeline and ocean-going oil tankers. This complex technological system poses an enduring risk of environmentally damaging oil spills in Alaska. This study applies the punctuated equilibrium theory of policy change to examine the processes and enduring consequences of the national policy reforms that allowed the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social impact assessment (SIA) is increasingly an accepted component of environmental impact assessment and project evaluation throughout North America. Tools and methodologies utilized to conduct such assessments vary greatly and continue to evolve with time and experience. This paper follows the evolution of case study methods in social impact assessment, focusing primarily on the comparative diachronic method. Exploring the utility of this method, this paper compares the potential social and economic impacts of the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) in the community of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, with the known social and economic impacts of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) in the community of Valdez, Alaska. Through such comparison, insights into potential impacts from the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project are assessed while also drawing attention to, and discussing, the specific strengths and weaknesses of a comparative case study approach to social impact assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, theoretical analyses have been performed to determine the feasibility of transporting gas-to-liquid (GTL) products through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) using a non-Newtonian fluid flow approach. Due to heat loss, the fluid temperature decreases in the direction of flow, and this affects the fluid properties, which in turn influence the convection coefficient and pumping power requirements. This article presents fluid temperature and heat loss along the pipeline at different locations. Furthermore, this study includes calculations on the power required to pump GTL and crude oil/GTL mix. Parametric studies had been performed varying two parameters: wind velocity, to vary convection over the pipeline, and snow depth. Ambient air velocities of 0.45 m/s (1 mph), 4.47 m/s (10 mph), and 8.94 m/s (20 mph) have been considered. Snow depths of 0 m (0 ft), 0.305 m (1 ft), and 0.61 m (2 ft) have also been taken into account. These results show that the pumping power and heat loss for GTL and commingled mixtures are less than that predicted by Nerella's (2002) Newtonian flow calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on oil production trend Hubbert multi-cycle and the institutional changes that affects the trend in the U.S. It notes that the delays in Alaskan oil output had changed the pattern of the U.S. oil production. It states that these specific institutional changes surrounding environmental laws for the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline seemed to be the cause for a total U.S. oil production Hubbert curve trend. Furthermore, institutional changes cannot be forecasted easily making it almost difficult to forecast oil output trends. Accordingly, a simplified Hubbert curve model was used to show the characteristics of oil supply while the U.S. oil production data was used to explain how institutional changes can cause Hubbert curve discontinuities.

As part of a major project on studying the operational challenges in gas-to-liquids (GTL) transportation through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), the wax appearance temperatures (WAT) of GTL products and the Alaska North Slope Crude (ANSC) and their blends were measured. The WAT measurements of GTL products were based on the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D3117 standard, whereas the WAT measurements of ANSC and its blends with the GTL products were measured by the viscometry technique. The reliability of the viscometry technique was ascertained by comparing the WATs of the colorless GTL products measured by the ASTM D 3117 method. The WATs measured by the viscometry technique and the ASTM D3117 method were found to be in excellent agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a major project on studying the transportation of gas-to-liquids (GTL) through the existing Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), the density and viscosity of GTL and the Alaskan North Slope Crude (ANSC) and their blends were measured. All density and viscosity measurements were performed, using the Anton–Paar vibrating tube densitometer and a cone and plate viscometer respectively, at temperatures ranging from 20 oC to 60 °C at atmospheric pressure. The accuracy of the measured data has been ascertained. In addition to the density and viscosity data, other data reported for GTL and ANSC include compositions. Finally, generalized dens ty and viscosity correlations for the measured data are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a project on studying the transportation of gas-to-liquids (GTL) through the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), two GTL transportation modes are evaluated: (i) as single slugs (batches) and (ii) commingled (mixed) with the Alaskan North Slope Crude (ANSC) oil. The pertinent energy equations are solved for both the batch and commingled flow modes. The solutions of these equations are analytically presented for determining among other parameters, the pressure gradient and the slug length required for batching. A comparison of the pressure gradient calculations is presented for the batching and the commingled flow cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the genesis, character and achievements of an exhibit at the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution commemorating the anniversary of the completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977. Types of interpretation and display; Observation on the exhibit; Central objective of the exhibit.

Presents the `Oil From the Arctic: Building the Trans-Alaska Pipeline,' an exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Aim to mark the 20th anniversary of the pipeline's completion; Preparations for the exhibit; Oil cans from the 1970s; Pipeline exhibit; Labels and brochure.

Ecological research in the U.S. Arctic had always been constrained severely by the difficulties of access to most parts of northern Alaska. In June 1968, Atlantic Richfield Company announced the discovery of "one of the largest petroleum accumulations" known to the world today. By February 1969, the oil companies decided to apply for right-of-way permits to construct a pipeline from the North slope to a port on the Gulf of Alaska. The construction of the haul road and then of the Trans-Alaska pipeline was a great accomplishment. The environmental challenges were tremendous and this article examines some of the associated scientific successes and failures.

The article discusses the transportation of oil from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska through Canada and the proposed construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline in the Mackenzie Valley region. Emphasis is given to the rejection of a routing scheme by the administration of U.S. president Richard Nixon and the Canadian government's responses to U.S. business interests. Other topics include evaluations of environmental impact, the use of tankers, and the views of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Discusses the issues surrounding the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS). Opposition from environmentalists; Compliance with the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act; Advantages of a trans-Canada pipeline over the TAPS; Elimination of the need to deal with other governments; Mandatory Oil Import Quota Program; Implications on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Built between 1974 and 1977, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was the largest privately financed construction project in world history. The Alaskan labor market during the pipeline era provides an ideal opportunity to view labor market responses to a large, anticipated, and temporary shock to labor demand. The paper presents several theoretical models of market responses to temporary demand shocks and then assesses the ability of each model to explain the Alaskan data. Among the findings are that Alaskan wages were very flexible, labor supply was quite elastic on both the intensive (hours per worker) and extensive (number of workers) margins, and even a major short-run demand shock need not have a long-run impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]