The Alaskan Oil Pipeline

1242km from Alaska to the ice-free prot of Valdez where oil tankers

Energy pastways: Issues of transporting energy resources.

then ship the oil to the rest of the US.

Environmental concerns
Vegetation

Wildlife

Tundra ecosystem very fragile- once destroyed it

could take decades to regenerate.

The USA moves oil by pipelines, tankers and barges. It is always a dangerous business. In
2005, 902 bn ton-miles of crude oil/ petroleum moved within the US. From 1980 to 2003, for
every billion tone-miles of oil/ petroleum products, pipelines spilled 27 gallons, trucks 37 and
barges 15.

Exxon Valdex Oil Spill

Biomass production:
crosses caribou migration route
When/ where/ what/ why happend?
Describe the environmental impact of this renewable energy source:
near caribou breeding grounds
1989, the Exxon Valdez got into trouble in Prince William Sound when it hit Bligh Reef, splitting
For some biomass energy such as RICE HUSKS, after all contain sillica, which is known to
might affect habitats of bears,
wolves
andand
cause
silicosis,
thereleasing
worlds most
common
lung(12.8km)
disease among
its side
open
oil, with
reportsoccupational
of an eight-mile
slick. unprotected
moose.
workers.
The effects

Wilderness

crosses, or is adjacent to, National Parks and

poor air quality as emergency crews try to burn off the top layer of oil
wildlife refuges.

Local
people

theand
oil slick
will affect tourism in the area, famous for whale-watching boat trips
May be forced to sell their land
to move

Oil spills

Major threat.

Spillages

around 250,000 seabirds, nearly 3,000 sea otters, 300 harbour seals, 250 bald eagles and up to
22 killer whales died.
> 2000km (1,250 miles) of coastline was affected having a serious impact on the regions
fishing industry