Exxon Valdez 1989

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Prince William Sound, Chenega Bay, 1989

What happened!
The tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a charted rock, Bligh Reef, in Prince William Sound on Good Friday, March 24, 1989 Eleven million gallons of Alaska North Slope crude oil spilled into the resource-laden environment. It was the largest and most destructive spill in the United States.

Is there still oil on the beaches?
Spilled oil fouled approximately 1300 miles of shoreline from Bligh Reef to Kodiak Island and beyond. Despite mechanical and chemical (bioremediation) clean-up efforts totaling more than $2 billion between 1982 and 1992, oil is still present. Eight sections of beache near Chenega Bay were cleaned again in 1997. A casual scan of the shoreline reveals little evidence weathered oil remains trapped beneath rocks and the subsurface of the more heavily oiled beaches.

Does damage persist for fish, birds, and other animals?
Ten years later, only two of 28 species and resources injured by the spill have "recovered." Although recovery seems underway for many species, injuries do persist. For example, herring and pink salmon in Prince William Sound (PWS) spawn in intertidal areas and are vulnerable to spilled oil. Higher than normal egg mortality for pink salmon in oiled streams continued through 1994 and in some areas, oil continues to be a threat. The population of PWS Pacific herring collapsed in 1993. That year, herring which had spawned in 1988, and were juveniles when the oil spill hit, were expected to dominate the population. A disease and fungus were identified as causes of the collapse, but fishermen and scientists see a link between stress from the oil and manifestation of the disease. None of seven seabird species injured by the spill has been declared recovered. Sea otters from heavily oiled Knight Island, and the often seen AB pod of killer whales both continue to have low populations. Recreation, tourism and subsistence activities also are still affected by the presence of residual oil on some beaches, or the reduced availability of fish/wildlife in parts of the spill region.

What have we learned since 1989?
It's difficult to briefly answer this question, but the most frequent response then and now is "prevention, prevention," whatever the cost! The disastrous lack of immediate and effective response to the 1989 spill also demonstrated the need for more local resources, better communications and a more effective decision making process. It spurred passage of the federal Oil Protection Act of 1990 which enacted many improvement in oil transport operations. Among its provisions were the establishment of tanker escort services in Prince William Sound and citizen oversight of environmental compliance by oil terminal facilities and tankers in both Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. No other ports in the United States have similar citizen oversight group.

Could it happen again?
It could, although response equipment and communication are greatly improved. Since the Exxon Valdez disaster, an escort vessel system for tankers in Prince William Sound and an improved radar system were established. Response equipment is now stored in various locations and fisherman participate in regular spill response drills and other training for hazardous waste material disposal. Despite these safety improvements, several incidents have occurred such as a spill of berthed tanker and a close call in 1995 when a loaded double-hulled tanker strayed outside the traffic lanes and came within 450 feet of a charted shoal. Additional safeguards incude the establishment of two Regional Citizens’ Advisory Councils (RCACs), in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. These councils provide a forum for citizens' concerns and are an excellent source of local knowledge. They also promote better communication between the industry and the communities. While the oil industry funds the operations of the nonprofit RCACs, their work and policies are autonomous, directed boards composed of community representatives. These volunteer citizens are the
best defense against the danger of complacency.

SPILL BYTES

· Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Congress established the Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI) to focus on improved technologies and ecological research related to oil pollution issues in the Arctic and Subarctic. Housed at the Prince William Sound Science Center In Cordova, the OSRI awards about $1.2 million annually in research and education grants.

· In 1998, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. added two "Tractor" tugs to its fleet of tanker escort vessels, and also began negotiations for construction of three new 10,000 horsepower tugs with improved fire-fighting capabilities. The Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) provides prevention and response capabilities that were not employed prior to the 1989 oil spill.

· The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires double-hulled tankers to be used in Prince William Sound by the year 2015. ARCO Alaska has ordered two new double-hulled tankers, and BP Exploration has completed preliminary design of one. No other companies have begun replacement of the aging tanker fleet that serves the Port of Valdez.

· Recent laboratory studies demonstrated that concentrations of some hydrocarbons present in crude oil as low as 1 part per billion can harm pink salmon and herring eggs. The effects of very weathered oil were the same as those of fresh oil. This means that the old oil persisting under gravel in some parts of Prince William Sound could still be harmful.

· Oil remains in the subsurface zones of some of the heavily oiled beaches in Prince William Sound. These beaches were cleaned mechanically in 1989 (and some again in 1997), chemically, and by nature over the past decade. On warm days in particular, this oil residue floats to the surface and continues to disturb wildlife and human use of these beaches.

· Harlequin ducks, three species of cormorants, pigeon guillemots, killers whales from the AB pod (the largest family group of killer whales in PWS prior to 1989), and the common loon are among species listed as "not recovering" by the EVOS Trustee Council.

· Bald eagles and river otters are the only two of 28 resources declared "recovered" by the Trustee Council.

SPILL BYTES

· The Exxon Valdez hit Bligh Reef. just south of Port Valdez, on Good Friday, March 24, 1989. This was twenty-five years after the massive Good Friday earthquake of 1964, also centered very close to Valdez.

· The state and federal governments reached an outof-court settlement with Exxon in 1991, resulting in formation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council. Exxon agreed to a $900 million settlement paid over a 10-year period. A six-member Council oversees restoration, research, and habitat protection projects funded by this settlement.

· As of early 1999, the settlement fund and the interest earnings were allocated to support habitat protection ($400 million), reimbursements for cleanup and litigation ($213 million), research and general restoration ($180 million), a savings account to fund restoration after 2002 ($108 million), and public participation, administration, and science management ($30 million).

· 1,400 miles of shoreline habitat in the oil spill region has been protected through a combination of land purchases and conservation easements. Within the 650,000 acres of protected habitat lie more than 300 salmon streams.
· In a separate class action lawsuit brought by over 40,000 commercial fishermen and other parties damaged by the oil spill, a 1994 jury determined that Exxon's conduct was reckless and awarded $5 billion, the largest punitive damages ever. This case is still under appeal.

· Until the appeal process is over, the court has required Exxon to provide a bank letter of credit assuring the availability of the $5 billion award. Interest of 5.9% is accruing on this award at a daily rate of $2 million.

· The people and economies of communities in the oil spill region suffered in the months and years following the spill. Commercial fishing and tourism were especially affected, but it is often difficult to quantify the effects because of other factors. One example of this is the decrease in value of fishing permits. A salmon seine permit that sold for $300,000 in 1989 is now worth $30,000.