Eroding Shorelines Threaten Alaska Fuel Tanks

Eroding Shorelines Threaten Alaska Fuel Tanks



2007 September -   U.S. Coast Guard personnel 
are monitoring fuel storage tanks in Kivalina that may become damaged due 
to heavy rain, 35 knot winds and nine foot seas eroding soil on the nearby 
coast. 
Presently, the fuel tanks containing about 240,000 gallons of diesel fuel 
and gasoline are just 30 feet from the shore. 
Village crews are working steadily to fill and strategically place 
sandbags to maintain the seawall on the ocean side of Kivalina 
Coast Guard Sector Anchorage is preparing a response to prevent an oil 
spill should it become necessary. Some response equipment is pre-staged by 
the storage facility, Alaska Village Electrical Cooperative. 
Other residents have evacuated to Red Dog Mine about 16 miles away. Fewer 
than 400 people reside in Kivalina, which is located at the tip of an 
eight-mile barrier reef located between the Chukchi Sea and Kivalina 
River. 
Village elders say 50 years ago the ocean coast was 1.5 miles from 
Kivalina. 
The shoreline at Kivalina is being eroded by the surf and storm conditions 
serve to accelerate the decay. 
In previous years the annual ice edge formation protected the village 
shore from savage winter storms, but as of September 13, 2007 the ice edge 
had not formed below the Bering Strait. 

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