Social Responsibility
Kenai Refinery

Operating a refinery in Alaska’s sensitive environment takes special care. In particular, the Cook Inlet area creates a unique challenge to shipping operations including occasional ice conditions, currents exceeding six knots, and a 30-foot tidal range. In the face of these challenges, Tesoro upgraded the mooring system at their Kenai Pipeline Facility on Cook Inlet to provide facility and vessel operators with immediate notifications of line tensions that could develop into potential problems.

Tesoro also developed steps to safely operate vessels in Cook Inlet during winter periods with extreme ice conditions. Today, these prevention measures have been adopted by local marine pilots and serve as an example to other area shippers.

Tesoro Alaska Company also took the lead in the development of the Geographic Response Strategies in Alaska, including all of Prince William Sound, Central Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay, with more planned for the future. Tesoro’s Industry Response Team personnel conducted response-training exercises on Kodiak Island. The team trains and deploys equipment alongside the Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response personnel.

Tesoro has also been proactive in its involvement with the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, providing vessel and facility tours, conducting training, and allowing them to participate in our Spill Management Team activities. In a letter supporting Tesoro’s 2001 Legacy Award nomination, the council stated that “The success of the Cook Inlet Geographic Response Strategies work is directly related to the efforts of Tesoro Alaska Company.”