Administrative
In addition to managing all administrative functions, the SPCO administration section provides clerical support to SPCO staff such as coordinating incoming and outgoing correspondence, file and record management and responding to public information requests.
The administrative section performs multiple functions critical to daily office operations. Administrative staff manage incoming and outgoing correspondence; right-of-way case files; and financial, procurement and other administrative records. Administrative staff also assist with public records requests and perform all administrative functions relating to personnel, payroll, recruitment, budgeting, grants and contracts, accounting, computer and network maintenance, facility management, property control, procurement and travel. In fiscal year 2012 (FY12), administrative staff coordinated and finalized more than 210 travel arrangements for SPCO compliance staff, liaisons and right-of-way specialists to conduct pipeline compliance, assessment and inspection activities.
The administrative section administers financial resources among state and federal agencies, lessees and applicants for all AS 38.35 pipeline right-of-way lease efforts. Reimbursable Service Agreements (RSAs) are contractual agreements whereby the State, per statute, is reimbursed for costs associated with a pipeline for the life of the project. The administrative section begins the RSA process with a pipeline proponent by requesting an annual work plan. Based on the plan the pipeline proponent provides, the administrative section identifies the state agency resources needed to fulfill the proponent's objectives. Administrative staff coordinate with jurisdictional state agencies, assist with the development of budget estimates for annual costs associated with the application and provide the applicant with a consolidated state agency oversight budget estimate.
The SPCO budget is revenue-based and largely funded by reimbursements from industry. State agency representatives are supported through reimbursable service agreements administered by the SPCO, thus integrating the expertise and authority of multiple departments into one coordinated office. FY12 SPCO program costs totaled $5,432,411. On behalf of the State, the SPCO collects general fund/ program receipts, also known as pipeline revenues, from lease payments, material sales and application fees. Actual lessee contributions to pipeline revenues are itemized in Appendix E. Pipeline revenues are deposited in the State's general fund. FY12 SPCO pipeline revenue collections grossed $4.25 million (Figure 3). Each year, the Alaska Legislature appropriates some general fund monies to the SPCO, which are used to support operations unrelated to any specific pipeline lease. The FY12 net deposit (revenue collected minus legislative appropriation to the SPCO) to the general fund was $3.78 million.
