Oil Sheen in Cook Inlet Underscores Risks of Offshore Drilling

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A miles-long sheen reported near an inactive oil and gas platform in Cook Inlet is raising renewed concerns about the risks posed by aging offshore infrastructure as the Trump administration and Congress push additional offshore oil and gas lease sales in the region. Authorities said Tuesday that the sheen was no longer visible and that its source and cause remain under investigation.

In response, Andrea Feniger, director of Sierra Club Alaska, released the following statement:

“Cook Inlet is an irreplaceable part of Alaska, sustaining salmon, endangered beluga whales, and communities and economies that depend on these waters. A miles-long sheen appearing near decades-old oil and gas infrastructure should ring alarm bells, not an invitation to drill for more. Cook Inlet belugas and other beloved wildlife are already being pushed to their limit due to oil and gas activity in Cook Inlet — any extra stress could cause irreversible population loss.

“Alaskans deserve answers about what happened and strong accountability for the aging infrastructure already in Cook Inlet. Expanding offshore drilling while weakening safeguards and oversight only puts our waters, wildlife, and communities at greater risk.”