Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's Alaska native program: forty year commitment remains strong.

• Author: Freeman, Louise
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Alaska Native Corporations - Statistical data

A twenty-three-year-old regulatory affairs intern; a thirty-three-year-old engineering manager; and a thirty-five-year-old corrosion program engineer: What do these up-and-coming Alaska Natives have in common? They have all benefited from participation in Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's highly successful Alaska Native Program (ANP).

In 1974, even before the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) began construction, Alyeska made a commitment to ensure that Alaska Natives would benefit economically from the construction and continued operation of the pipeline. This commitment was defined in Section 29 of the Federal Agreement and Grant of Right-of-Way for TAPS. In lieu of a cash payment, Alaska Natives chose to receive compensation in the form of jobs and job training opportunities in professional, technical, and administrative fields.

Section 29 drove the development and implementation of the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement, an agreement that commits Alyeska to hire and develop Alaska Natives for 20 percent of the workforce (both those employed directly by Alyeska and by its designated contractors). Fulfillment of this commitment is monitored by the Joint Pipeline Office, which oversees compliance with all aspects of the Federal Agreement and Grant of Right-of-Way. Alyeska's commitment to the Alaska Native Utilization Agreement was renewed into perpetuity in 2007.

Although the hiring levels of Alaska Natives rose as high as 16 to 20 percent during construction of TAPS, in subsequent years, the percentage of Alaska Native employees in the workforce declined. To rectify this situation, ANP was established in 1995. This successful program is designed to ensure that Alaska Natives and other under-utilized groups participate fully in opportunities available through Alyeska, including jobs, training, job counseling, career development, and promotion opportunities, as well as internships and scholarships. Since 1996, Alyeska has distributed more than $14 million for educational scholarships, training, and development opportunities that benefit Alaska Natives.

'A Group Effort'

For the last several years, Alyeska has achieved and maintained its commitment to hire and develop Native Alaskans for 20 percent of its workforce. Alyeska engages in targeted recruitment at universities and career fairs and has a presence at events such as Alaska Federation of Natives and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society annual conferences.

Alaska...