Contrasting views on the Drift River Oil Terminal 2 October 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Redoubt, eruptions, natural hazards.Tags: Alaska, Drift River Oil Terminal, natural hazards, Redoubt, volcanic eruptions
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Two contrasting views of the Drift River Oil Terminal saga have been published in the Homer Tribune. Michael Munger of the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council presents a positive view: ‘In the recent situation with Mount Redoubt and the Drift River Oil Terminal, the unified command worked exactly the way it was intended, resulting in a successful response to the volcanic mudflow threatening the facility. As a result, no people were injured and no oil was spilled’. In the other corner, Bob Shavelson of environmental organization Cook Inletkeeper: ‘The fact remains that the Drift River Oil Terminal incident stands out as the most significant breakdown in spill prevention and response in Alaska since the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. That breakdown put our fishermen, workers and countless families and businesses around Cook Inlet at extreme risk’.
The central point is that the Drift River Oil Terminal should not be where it is. If it was not in a dangerous location in the first place none of the impressive hazard management Michael Munger talks about would be necessary.
[Image of the Drift River Oil Terminal and lahars from Mount Redoubt: NASA Earth Observatory, 9 April 2009, originally posted here; see also Drift River Oil Terminal vs. the volcano.]
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 23-29 September 2009 30 September 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Batu Tara, Chaitén, Chile, Costa Rica, Dieng Volcanic Complex, Dukono, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karymsky, Kilauea, Papua New Guinea, Rabaul, Redoubt, Russia, Sakura-jima, Shiveluch, Turrialba, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports, activity reports, eruptions.Tags: Global Volcanism Program, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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Click on the map for a larger version (1280 x 898 pixels).
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 23-29 September 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity/unrest: Dieng Volcanic Complex (Indonesia), Karymsky (Russia), Shiveluch (Russia).
Ongoing activity: Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Langila (Papua New Guinea), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (Alaska, USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Turrialba (Costa Rica).
Redoubt back to Green/Normal 30 September 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Redoubt, United States, activity reports, eruptions.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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The Alaska Volcano Observatory lowered Redoubt’s status to Aviation Colour Code Green and Volcano Alert Code Normal at 18:44 GMT (10:44 AKDT) yesterday, 29 September 2009. According to the Volcanic Activity Notice issued by the AVO …
Over the past several months, seismic activity, volcanic gas output, ground deformation, lava dome temperatures, and outward signs of lava dome instability at Redoubt Volcano have been declining. The volcano appears to have returned to its normal background condition and for now poses no immediate threat of eruptive activity. Accordingly, AVO is lowering the Aviation Color Code to GREEN and the Volcano Alert Code to NORMAL.
The AVO notes that the Redoubt lava dome has reached a volume of approximately 70 million cubic metres, and that lava domes on steep slopes are ‘typically unstable’. However, given that 60 days have passed since the dome ceased to grow, ‘AVO believes the possibility for dome collapse is small and declining toward a background level of danger typical of many active stratovolcanoes with steep unstable rock slopes’. Local hazards remain, associated with the hot lava dome: gas emission, abundant steaming, rockfalls, but these do not pose a significant hazard beyond the summit area of the volcano.
With Redoubt now at Green/Normal, only Shishaldin among the AVO’s charges remains at Yellow/Advisory, because of its sustained but low-level seismic rumblings.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Snowy Redoubt steams, but activity remains low 21 September 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Redoubt, United States, activity reports.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports
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The weather around Redoubt volcano in Alaska cleared over the last few days to reveal a prominent steam plume, but this does not indicate a renewal of activity. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has confirmed that the heating of fresh snowfall on the summit is the source of the plume, and that seismic activity at the volcano continues to decline. The most recent AVO status reports say that the lava dome is cooling, and that, while the threat of a collapse remains, that threat is declining over time.
Redoubt is at alert level Yellow/Advisory, but Chris Waythomas of the AVO is quoted by the Peninsula Clarion as saying ‘It’s headed toward background activity, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was downgraded to green next month’.
[Image of Redoubt taken 18 September 2009, courtesy Dennis Anderson, Night Trax Photography.]
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Redoubt steams, but seismic activity declines – KTUU.com, 20 September 2009
Still steaming: Redoubt’s seismic activity declining – Peninsula Clarion, 20 September 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Drift River Oil Terminal: what next? 28 August 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Redoubt, United States, natural hazards.Tags: Alaska, Drift River Oil Terminal, natural hazards, Redoubt
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The future of the Drift River Oil Terminal remains unclear, after a public meeting on Monday night that brought together the agencies responsible for the terminal and members of local communities revealed that no-one, including the people running the place, knows quite what happens next.
The oil terminal, which stands at the mouth of the Drift River in the path of lahars from Redoubt volcano (which continues to exhibit ’significant activity’), was shut down after Redoubt erupted in March, and was finally drained of most of the stored oil that remained on-site at the end of April and beginning of May. There was talk in mid-July of the terminal coming back on line this month, but that seems to have been quietly forgotten. The word that came from the Cook Inlet Pipeline Company (CIPL) at the meeting, reports the Peninsula Clarion, is that the terminal ‘won’t be used to store more oil anytime in the near future’, but beyond that things are very vague. ‘We will work on long term plans’, says CIPL’s Rod Ficken, ‘there are a lot of different scenarios on the table’. In the immediate future a ‘tightline’ system will be used with oil stored in company tanks and piped direct to tankers without being stored at Drift River; longer term, tankage may be expanded at other regional facilities.
Meanwhile the ‘Unified Command’ established in March to oversee the terminal during the eruption is to disband and the facility is to be run and regulated as normal, a process which will involve using ‘transition’ as a verb:
Gary Folley, the state on-scene coordinator for DEC [Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation], complimented the UC [Unified Command] Monday night, on the responses and actions taken though the situation.
‘The formation of Unified Command was a big improvement from the response organization in 1989 and ‘90. The main thing is that all the key decision makers were in one place and this allowed for quick decisions … It is now time for Unified Command to stand down. Regulatory oversight of the terminal will transition back to normal agency functions’, he said.
Environmental pressure group Cook Inletkeeper have long been worried about oil being stored at the Drift River terminal. Now that it seems oil will not be stored there but piped direct to tankers they are worried about that instead: ‘now, with the implementation of tightline operations, tanker traffic in the inlet will increase, posing the potential for new and increased risks’.
News
Public to hear plans for Drift River terminal – Anchorage Daily News, 14 August 2009
Kenai town hall discusses crude oil stored near Mount Redoubt – KTUU.com, 24 August 2009
No new oil to be stored near Mount Redoubt – KTUU.com, 25 August 2009
Sleepy but not gone to bed: Mount Redoubt continues to exhibit ’significant activity’ – Peninsula Clarion, 26 August 2009
Oil terminal to stay unused: Cook Inlet production not anticipated to fully recover – Peninsula Clarion, 26 August 2009
Drift River Oil Terminal back on line next month 14 July 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Redoubt, United States, activity reports, eruptions, natural hazards.Tags: Alaska, Drift River, lahars, natural hazards, Redoubt, volcanic activity reports
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In response to ‘a significant decrease in the rate of lava extrusion’ and indications that the growth of the lava dome had ’significantly slowed, if not stopped’, the Alaska Volcano Observatory lowered the alert level at Redoubt volcano to aviation colour code Yellow and volcano alert level Advisory at the end of last month (AVO advisory 30 June 2009). The eruption may be coming to an end … or it may very well not. In an extended information statement, the AVO warns:
Despite evidence for the significant slowing, and possible cessation of its growth rate, the lava dome is potentially unstable and the possibility of a full or partial collapse remains high at present. Such a collapse would likely be accompanied by the production of a large ash plume and lahars in the Drift River valley. This event could occur with little or no advance warning.
Against this background comes the news that the Cook Inlet Pipe Line Company is planning to have the Drift River Oil Terminal back on line by the middle of next month. The terminal is 40 km from Redoubt’s main vent, at the mouth of the Drift River Valley, which forms a channel for the volcano’s lahars. Plans are apparently in hand to modify the facility so that oil will be shipped directly from the pipeline into tankers, by-passing the vulnerable storage tanks that have been the focus for much concern.
This will get the oil flowing and the people working again (dome collapses and lahars allowing) but the long-term future of the terminal is unclear: ‘The facility remains in pretty good shape’, says CIPL spokesman Casey Sullivan, ‘the concern is the location.’ No kidding.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Volcano-halted Alaska oil production to resume – Reuters, 13 July 2009
Cook Inlet pipeline operations expected to resume in August – Radio Kenai, 13 July 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10-16 June 2009 18 June 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Batu Tara, Chaitén, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dukono, Ebeko, Ecuador, Galeras, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Kilauea, Kliuchevskoi, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Popocatépetl, Rabaul, Redoubt, Rinjani, Russia, Sakura-jima, Sangay, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Slamet, Suwanose-jima, Tungurahua, Turrialba, Ubinas, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports, activity reports, eruptions.Tags: Global Volcanism Program, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 10-16 June 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity: Rinjani (Indonesia), Sangay (Ecuador), Sarychev Peak (Russia).
Ongoing activity: Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Ebeko (Russia), Galeras (Colombia), Kilauea (USA), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Shiveluch (Russia), Suwanose-jima (Japan), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Turrialba (Costa Rica), Ubinas (Peru).
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 3-9 June 2009 11 June 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Batu Tara, Chaitén, Chile, Colombia, Dukono, Ecuador, Fuego, Galeras, Guatemala, Hawaii, Japan, Kamchatka, Karangetang, Karymsky, Kelut, Kilauea, Llaima, Manam, Mexico, Pacaya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Popocatépetl, Rabaul, Redoubt, Russia, Sakura-jima, Santa María, Shiveluch, Slamet, Tungurahua, Ubinas, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports, activity reports, eruptions.comments closed
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 3-9 June 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity: Galeras (Colombia), Karangetang (Indonesia), Sangeang Api (Indonesia), Slamet (Indonesia).
Ongoing activity: Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Fuego (Guatemala), Karymsky (Russia), Kelut (Indonesia), Kilauea (USA), Llaima (Chile), Manam (Papua New Guinea), Pacaya (Guatemala), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Shiveluch (Russia), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Ubinas (Peru).
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 27 May-2 June 2009 3 June 2009
Posted by admin in Bagana, Batu Tara, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colombia, Dukono, Ecuador, Etna, Hawaii, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Karangetang, Kilauea, Llaima, Makian, Nevado del Huila, Papua New Guinea, Popocatépetl, Rabaul, Redoubt, Russia, Sakura-jima, Shiveluch, Slamet, Soufrière Hills, Tungurahua, Ubinas, United States, activity reports, eruptions.Tags: volcanic eruptions, volcanic activity reports, Global Volcanism Program
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The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 27 May-2 June 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity: Karangetang (Indonesia), Makian (Indonesia), Slamet (Indonesia).
Ongoing activity: Bagana (Papua New Guinea), Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Etna (Italy), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Llaima (Chile), Nevado del Huila (Colombia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (Alaska, USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Shiveluch (Russia), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Ubinas (Peru).
NEW ACTIVITY
Karangetang (Indonesia). 30-31 May, seismicity increased and tremor was detected. Diffuse white plumes rose 10-50 m and crater incandescence was seen on 30 May, white emissions rose 100 m above Utama Crater on 31 May, incandescent material descended as far as 2.3 m, mostly down S flank.
Makian (Indonesia). Seismicity, particularly tremor, increased during 28 May-2 June.
Slamet (Indonesia). 27 May, ash plume rose to 4.3 km a.s.l., possible plume rose to 6.1 km.
ONGOING ACTIVITY
Bagana (Papua New Guinea). 2 June, ash plume to 2.4 km a.s.l., drifted 75 km W.
Batu Tara (Indonesia). 27 May-2 June, ash plumes to 2.4 km a.s.l., drifted 25-75 km NW, W and SW; thermal anomaly detected 29 May.
Chaitén (Chile). 20-27 May, gas-and-ash plumes rose 1.5 km from the growing lava dome complex and collapses caused by instable slopes generated block-and-ash flows. Seismicity remained elevated with large hybrid earthquakes at 5-9 km beneath the western part of the dome complex. 28-29 May and 1-2 June, ash plumes rose to 1.8-2.4 km a.s.l.
Dukono (Indonesia). 27-28 May, ash plumes to 3 km a.s.l., drifted 55-110 km NE.
Etna (Italy). 25-31 May, the NW-SE-trending fissure E of the summit craters continued to produce active lava flows, There was degassing from the Northeast Crater, the NW and SE Bocca Nuova vents, from the E flank of the Southeast Crater and at summit fumarolic fields.
Kilauea (Hawaii, USA). 27 May-2 June, lava continued to flow SE through lava tubes to the Waikupanaha ocean entry and (until 31 May) the Kupapa’u ocean entry. Active surface lava flows were also detected on 30 May. The Halema’uma’u crater vent continued to produce a mainly white plume with an occasional brown tinge, that drifted mainly SW. A molten lava pool near the base of the cavity produced varying incandescence.
Llaima (Chile). A 2-square-kilometre area of elevated temperatures was observed on the E flank during an overflight on 1 June. Small areas of gas emission, a small cone in formation about 800 m below the crater and a 300-metre-long E-W-trending fissure 200 m from the rim of the main crater, emitting brown ash and steam plumes, were also observed. There were weak fumaroles at the summit crater.
Nevado del Huila (Colombia). A seismic swarm took place on 28 May that included magnitude 4 and 4.8 earthquakes. On 31 May an episode of tremor occurred associated with an ash emission, and a further pulse of tremor was detected on 2 June.
Popocatépetl (Mexico). 27 May-2 June, emissions of steam and gas observed, with slight amounts of ash during 27-29 May.
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea). 21-28 May, white and occasionally blue plumes from Tavurvur cone rose 1 km above the crater and incandescence from the summit crater was observed at night.
Redoubt (Alaska, USA). Seismicity remained low but above background 27 May-2 June. Lava dome growth continued.
Sakura-jima (Japan). An explosion on 30 May produced a plume to 4.6 km a.s.l. that drifted SE. On 31 May an ash plume rose to 3 km a.s.l., and on 1 June eruptions produced plumes to 2.1-3.4 km a.s.l, some of which drifted S.
Shiveluch (Russia). Seismic activity was above background levels 22-29 May; steam-and-gas emissions were observed 21-23 May, and plumes with small amounts of ash rose to 4 km a.s.l. on 22 May. A daily thermal anomaly was detected over the lava dome.
Soufrière Hills (Montserrat). Activity during 22-29 May was at a low level: a possible small explosion followed by a rockfall occurred on 23 May, and a small pyroclastic flow descended 1 km E on 24 May, producing an ash plume that drifted W.
Tungurahua (Ecuador). Strombolian activity was observed at night during 26-28 May, followed by nocturnal incandescence at the crater until 1 June. On 27-29 and 31 May thermal anomalies were detected. There was the usual range of noises: explosions, cannonades and roars. Steam-and-ash plumes rose to 7 km a.s.l. and drifted W and SW on 28 May, and ashfall was reported 28-30 May.
Ubinas (Peru). On 29 and 31 May eruptions produced ash plumes to 5.5-6.7 km a.s.l. that drifted NE and SW. A bluish gas plume with some ash content was reported on 1 June, and gas-and-ash plumes rose 0.9-1.5 km a.s.l. and drifted SE following an explosion on 2 June.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DISCLAIMER
The foregoing is a summary of the Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 27 May-2 June 2009. It is provided for information only, and is based on but not a substitute for the full report, which comes with its own criteria and disclaimers. for the full report, which comes with its own criteria and disclaimers. The map base is derived from the Smithsonian Institution/USGS/US Naval Research Laboratory This Dynamic Planet website.
For all our coverage of the SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports: Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports « The Volcanism Blog.
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 20-26 May 2009 27 May 2009
Posted by admin in Alaska, Barren Island, Batu Tara, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colima, Dukono, Ebeko, Ecuador, Fuego, Guatemala, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karangetang, Kilauea, Llaima, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rabaul, Redoubt, Reventador, Russia, Sakura-jima, Shiveluch, Slamet, Soufrière Hills, Suwanose-jima, Tungurahua, Ubinas, United States, Veniaminof, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports, activity reports, eruptions.Tags: volcanic eruptions, volcanic activity reports, Global Volcanism Program
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The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 20-26 May 2009 is available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.
- The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
- Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
- The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.
New activity: Karangetang (Indonesia), Reventador (Ecuador), Slamet (Indonesia)
Ongoing activity: Barren Island (India), Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Colima (Mexico), Dukono (Indonesia), Ebeko (Russia), Fuego (Guatemala), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Llaima (Chile), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (Alaska, USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Shiveluch (Russia), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), Suwanose-jima (Japan), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Ubinas (Peru), Veniaminof (Alaska, USA).
