No surprise with Alyeska move

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- The early retirement of the head of the company operating the Trans-Alaska pipeline came as no surprise, said a U.S. lawmaker investigating safety issues.

Kevin Hostler announced he was stepping down in September as the top executive of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., a consortium led by embattled British oil company BP.

U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said he wasn't surprised by the decision, CNN reports.

"In our committee staff's meeting with Mr. Hostler last week, we expressed serious concerns about a recent internal report showing significant issues with the management culture at Alyeska," he said.

Stupak led an investigation in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that found major safety issues on the 800-mile pipeline. He called on the Alyeska consortium to replace Hostler with someone more capable of leading the company in the right direction.

The U.S. Justice Department in 2009 said in a civil suit that Alyeska was violating environmental laws in Alaska.

Hostler in a statement on the Alyeska Web site said he was retiring early.

"Retiring at the end of September is good for the pipeline, and it allows enough time for a proper transition," he said. "Our executive team and other Alyeska leaders have worked toward developing leadership skills so that any transition in the organization is seamless."