EnergyAnchorage · March 23, 2026
North Slope spill response
Cleanup crews are working on Alaska's North Slope after a spill released 2,585 gallons of drilling waste from an oil rig.
Daily Alaska staff · March 23, 2026 · Anchorage
Cleanup crews on Alaska's North Slope are working through phase two of a cleanup after an oil spill in January released drilling waste at a North Slope rig site. Response teams moved quickly to contain and remove the material once the spill was discovered.
As of the latest update, crews have recovered 2,585 gallons of waste, and about 58 percent of the rig has been removed from the site. The work is ongoing as teams continue to locate and clear the remaining material.
The North Slope is one of the most active oil production regions in Alaska, and spills there trigger immediate containment, recovery, and monitoring efforts as a matter of standard process.
Officials say monitoring of the site shows no immediate risk to the local community or the environment. Evaluations are expected to continue through the summer to confirm the final cleanup is completed properly.
In this story
Questions people ask
When did the North Slope oil spill happen?
January 2025. Crews are now in phase two of cleanup from drilling waste released at a rig site.
How much waste has been recovered from the North Slope spill?
2,585 gallons so far, and about 58 percent of the rig has been removed from the site.
Is there any risk to the community or environment?
Officials say monitoring shows no immediate risk to the community or environment.
When will the North Slope cleanup be finished?
Not yet set. Evaluations are expected to continue through summer.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- A North Slope oil spill involving drilling waste happened in January. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Crews have recovered 2,585 gallons of waste and removed about 58% of the rig from the site. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Officials say monitoring shows no immediate risk to the local community or environment. · alaskasnewssource.com
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