A 1,000-gallon diesel spill earlier this month near the Yukon River has renewed concerns over plans by oil company Hilcorp to drill in the region later this year.
The spill involved a truck operated by Brice Inc., a Native-owned construction firm that has been working with Hilcorp to prepare for summer drilling in the Yukon Flats basin, north of Fairbanks. Although Hilcorp did not operate the truck, the incident has raised questions about industrial risks tied to oil exploration.
Equipment for the drilling program is being staged at the Yukon River Camp, where the Dalton Highway crosses the river. Once river ice clears, the equipment will be barged upstream to drill sites. Thom Leonard, a spokesman for Brice’s parent company, Calista, said the truck was “between jobs” when the spill occurred at a camp parking lot on federal land. The lot is typically used for “multi-day barging storage,” according to a report Brice submitted to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
There is no indication that the diesel reached the Yukon River, according to DEC documents. However, drilling critics argue the incident shows the risks of operating in such sensitive areas.
The spill left about 600 gallons of pooled diesel in the parking lot. Workers had to vacuum it up with another truck. A video obtained by Northern Journal showed workers wading through ankle-deep diesel at the site.
“We were told again and again that everything was perfectly safe,” said Rhonda Pitka, chief of the tribal government in Beaver, a village along the Yukon. “It’s so disappointing.”
While oil companies often rely on contractors, Brice affiliates have previously worked with Hilcorp. Leonard declined to confirm whether the truck was supporting Hilcorp’s activities, citing client confidentiality. A Hilcorp spokesman also declined to comment.
An online update from Doyon Ltd., the regional Native corporation that owns the land where drilling is planned, said Brice crews were clearing debris for Hilcorp’s exploration work. A Doyon official referred questions about the spill to Hilcorp.
Hilcorp’s drilling plan has backing from Doyon and tribal leaders in Birch Creek, the village nearest to the drill sites. However, other Native leaders along the Yukon River oppose the project, warning that oil operations threaten the salmon-dependent communities. Opponents only learned of the spill days after it occurred on April 6, Pitka said, describing it as “exactly what we were afraid of.”
Critics also highlight Hilcorp’s record in Alaska, noting past regulatory violations and fines for other incidents.
DEC official Terra Meares identified Brice as the “responsible party” for the spill, adding that the agency’s role does not extend to overseeing the company’s work for Hilcorp. Any decisions on penalties will be made by senior DEC officials, she said.
According to Brice’s report, the truck was parked on April 4 without visible problems. A camp resident discovered the spill early April 6 while observing the northern lights and noticing the smell of fuel.
The truck’s tank had a 3,000-gallon capacity. Workers vacuumed 600 gallons of diesel from the snow and ice, and an excavator later removed contaminated ice from the site.
Leonard said Brice and its parent company “always strive to respect the environment.”
“We are Alaskans,” he said in an email. “It pains us when incidents like this occur, but we are proud our team acted quickly and followed all regulations.”
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