Thousands of workers and volunteers helped to clean up after the oil spill, and Exxon provided $2.1 billion in funding. Despite these cleanup efforts, the spill exterminated much native wildlife, including salmon, herring, sea otters, bald eagles, and killer whales.
What changes were made after the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
In the wake of the Exxon Valdez disaster, the U.S. Congress passed a law, in 1990, that required oil tankers in U.S. waters to have double hulls (unlike that fateful ship) and increased penalties for spills.
What did the government do during the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
The state of Alaska sued Exxon over the spill, and the federal government indicted the company for violating the Clean Water Act . Exxon paid $1 billion in settlements to the state and federal governments, and $300 million in voluntary settlements with private parties.
Did the Exxon Valdez sink?
On July 30, 1989 , four months after it ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound and caused the then-largest oil spill in U.S. waters, the crippled Exxon Valdez entered dry dock at National Steel and Shipbuilding in San Diego—its original birthplace.
What are the lessons learned from Exxon Valdez oil spill?
- Oil spill “cleanup” is a myth. ...
- Oil spills can cause long-term environmental damage. ...
- Oil spill restoration is impossible. ...
- Officials habitually understate spill risk, size, and impact. ...
- Prevention is key. ...
- Oversight by the public is critical. ...
- Liability motivates safety.
Who was at fault for the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Drinking by the ship's captain, a fatigued and overworked crew and inadequate traffic control by the Coast Guard all contributed to the enormous oil spill by the Exxon Valdez off the Alaskan coast last year, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled today.
What are the long term effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
A new study released today into the effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska shows that embryonic salmon and herring exposed to very low levels of crude oil can develop hidden heart defects that compromise their later survival , indicating that the spill may have had much greater impacts on spawning fish ...
How did the Exxon Valdez affect humans?
No humans died during the actual oil spill, but four were killed during the cleanup. Furthermore, many workers involved in the cleanup fell ill. Respiratory illnesses (of which 6,722 were reported) were thought to be colds or flus and were even called ‘the Valdez crud.
What happened to the captain of the Exxon Valdez?
The National Transportation Safety Board reported Thursday that the captain of the Exxon Valdez was legally drunk when he was tested some 10 hours after his tanker hit a reef last week, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Did the Exxon Valdez catch fire?
The two ships then towed the boom away from the slick and the oil was ignited. The fire did not endanger the main slick or the Exxon Valdez because of the distance separating them. Because of unfavorable weather, however, no additional burning was attempted in this cleanup effort.
Has Prince William Sound recovered from the spill?
It took a quarter century, but the northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris
Who was captain of the Exxon Valdez?
Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood (born September 24, 1946) is an American sailor. He was the captain of Exxon Valdez during her 1989 oil spill.
Why is the Exxon Valdez significant quizlet?
Why is the Exxon Valdez significant? It was an oil tanker that caused one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history , leading to the building of double-hulled ships. ... It is from the North American Free Trade Agreement, the goal of which was to eliminate trade barriers among North American countries.
How much money did it cost to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Cleanup alone cost in the region of US $2.5 billion and total costs (including fines, penalties and claims settlements) have, at times been estimated at as much as US $7 billion.”
Why was the Exxon Valdez cleanup delayed?
The chairman of the Exxon Corporation said yesterday that a lack of authorization from Alaskan and Coast Guard officials contributed to the delay in efforts to clean up the oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound.
Why did the Exxon Valdez crash?
Various reports following the accident have identified a number of factors that made Exxon Valdez ran aground on the reef under the command of Captain Joseph Hazelwood. ... Reports also said the accident occurred as the ship took a route which was not prescribed under the normal shipping route .
