The average mortality
age for deceased individuals that spent time on the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline was
68.1 for 2022, as compared to non-pipeline work those that lived in Anchorage,
Alaska, wherein the life expectancy meant upwards 79.3-years. Yes, life cut
short by 11-years for once-upon-a-time pipeline workers at the prime of
retirement, due cancers associated with that pipeline work. Such adverse health
effects that remain somewhat dormant until that golden-age confronts reality, wherein
when it catches up on one’s health it means frequent urination that which then sucks
the life in freedom away, because of the way we were treated on-the-job while the boss
said “Trust Us”. With respect to the 2022 tally, which reinforces the trend-setting
from previous years that there exists a work related causal connection such
premature pipeline worker-bee obituaries commonplace, there is also that
continuation of an “outlying” work site associated “Death Rate Spike”, targeting
those that worked in Valdez, Alaska. Wherein the Alyeska Pipeline Service
Company is of record that the Valdez Marine Terminal “Operation” maintained one
of the nation’s largest “Benzene Generators”, allowing upwards 450-Tons each
year of this cancer-causing agent “raw blue” to bombard the ambient air, which
meant that air we breathe that which silently targeted the kids at the Valdez
kindergarten when outside enjoying recess. They KILLED US! And when “Benzene”
was detected at a hazardous level that was alarming in Valdez city proper, only 3-mile
islands away from that “End” of the 800-mile long pipeline and its infamous “Benzene
Generator”, Alyeska tried to convince the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation that the “Alyeska Marine Terminal” across the bay from Valdez only
contributed 1% of that background detected cancer-causing beast – because it
was guilty maybe? Wait there is more, that the remaining 99% of this “Benzene Madness”
came from LA like traffic jams in a town of only 4000, with maybe one traffic
light and if not from traffic jam exhaust pipes it was from cigarette smoke! How
many packs per day? Well in estimate it would require the consumption of 21
packs per day per household, or a cigarette every 2-minutes! And because what Alyeska said without any proof,
while those kindergarten kids were breathing in that cancer-causing stuff, that
was a convincing enough argument to the “Air Quality Regulators” so it meant
off-the-hook no more testing has been required since 1991. Even though back
then there was in scientific estimate a 180x greater risk of “Benzene” related cancer
fallout, that which the citizens of Valdez had to contend with and a
corresponding 400x the risk of frequent urination come retirement for the pipeline
workers. When this “Benzene Cancer” surfaces, the human body tries to rid
itself of the killer’s challenge, which starts off with frequent bathroom
excursions. And why so this “Benzene” detection testing placed on the back
burner when all indications signaled a serious problem at hand? Because “testing”
would have revealed this “Benzene Monster” early on, and in efforts forthright
to get a hold of this “KILLER” as then the ADEC would have to STOP it – but you
cannot bite the hand that feeds as the State-of-Alaska gets rich through this
pipeline! The people we placed that “Trust” to make sure the air we breathe was
safe, well they were more in tune to helping the state get rich so that yearly
free-bonus check would get heftier. It means the regulators existing in name
only, silent-night bed-fellows with the villains. And it was not until 2002
that the BLM through an FEIS(Federal Environmental Impact Statement) required
for a 30-year extention of the TAPS Right-of-Way, the BLM then found that Alyeska was
the cause for greater then 90% of that background “Benzene Madness”, which was
already starting to show up as an atrocity to those that had to breathe in this
cancer ingredient as a condition of continued employment for that Johnny
Paycheck. But still, nothing was done even though the TAPS ROW finds a demanding
stipulation for “Total Removal” of a pollutant that threatens wildlife, under
Title 43 Chapter 34 Trans-Alaska Pipeline! Matter of fact, as soon as that ROW
was OK’d by the Secretary of the Interior in 2003, the State of Alaska regulators reduced
the “pollution abatement” requirements at the Valdez Marine Terminal to less
then what was required at the pipeline’s northern most TAPS pumping station,
because there must be a whole lot more people living in the middle of nowhere
Seville that require “Air Quality” protection, especially the kids up there on the North Slope,
the kindergarteners playing outside when it is minus 80F don’t want that “Benzene
Poison” flashing in their lungs! But there is a reason the “Killing Fields”
from this “Benzene Blue Death” finds no accountability today, as the 1989 EXXON
Valdez “wreck” tarnished everything scientific, and today it is just a
continuation of the name-game blame it all on Joe Hazelwood regardless of the crash-course
cause! And today, Alyeska is still contesting over 30 “Serious Violations” from
2020 for exposing the workers in Valdez to “Benzene”, this when the operation
was under Vice President Betsy Haines, who was then promoted to run the
company! Why this, because she knew about the “Benzene” as well did the regulators,
but what’s a few workers deaths to those executives that live and work in
Anchorage and take home a handsome paycheck, as it is guaranteed at least a
better chance of making it to that 79th birthday celebration – so what’s
a few premature premeditated deaths of the dedicated workers! NOTHING?
It is time for serious litigation
using that Title 43 Chapter 34 Trans-Alaska Pipeline "Act", in efforts to defend the
front-line workers, from the wrong instituted through “Harm’s Way” caused by
this “Benzene Madness” as a condition of continued employment. Under Section §1653
of that “Act”, which is part of the Right-of-Way agreement in full-force majeure
today, it calls for a “Total Removal” of pollutants, such as “Benzene” is so
defined by the EPA as a “Hazardous Air Pollutant”. In demand that “removal” for
any pipeline activity “within or without” the ROW proper, which includes the
small town of Valdez. And in action finding liability, an award of $350-Million
is allowed for each incident. And why it will be an easy case when it hits the
court’s steps and the gavel of negligence falls, the fact it is the ROW holders, that being “Big Alaskan Oil” that
will be held responsible for letting its agent – the Alyeska Pipeline Service
Company - get away with “Murder Most Foul”. We the Pipeline Workers Shall
Overcome!
If interested in this
litigation, contact Mike Kelley at Michael.kelley-tmkf@gmail.com,
for updates or to lend a helping hand and contributions always excepted in
efforts to build up a “War Chest” to fight these criminals that have stolen
away our lives!
Attorney Law Firms
Wanted!
