Alaska pipeline CEO stepping down

David Fitzpatrick
CNN Special Investigations Unit

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/07/07/alaska.pipeline.resignation/t1larg.alaska.pipeline.gi.jpg caption="The Trans-Alaska Pipeline emerges a few miles north of the Yukon River in Fairbanks. It carries oil to the southern port of Valdez." width=300 height=169]

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The head of the company that operates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline announced his retirement Wednesday after criticism by a congressional committee and the internal watchdog unit of majority owner BP.

Kevin Hostler will step down as CEO of Alyeska, the BP-dominated consortium that operates the 800-mile pipeline, on September 30, the company announced.

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

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