Crude Awakening: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill left its mark on Alaska

The nation's worst oil spill occurred in Alaska's Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. At least 11 million
gallons of crude oil spewed out of the Exxon Valdez tanker after it struck Bligh Reef in the early morning
hours.

While only 20% of its cargo leaked into the surrounding waters, the huge spill caused wide environmental
damage, damaged Alaska fisheries and killed thousands of seabirds. The resulting slick stretched for 1,300
miles along Alaskan coastline.

Studies of oil spills continue to show what incredible damage is caused by these spills. It has been documented
that petroleum-based hydrocarbons can severely impact aquatic life at concentrations as low as one part per
billion.

During the spill, seabirds were immediately affected by the oil. The resulting spill penetrated their plumage,
reducing the insulating ability of their feathers. Oiled birds are prone to hypothermia and much less buoyant in
the water. The oiled feathers also impairs birds' flight, thus making it difficult or impossible to feed and escape
from predators.

As they attempt to preen or clean their feathers, birds will ingest oil that coats their plumage, causing kidney
damage, altered liver function, and digestive tract distress. The limited feeding ability coupled with the
ingestion of the oil quickly causes dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Most birds affected by an oil spill
will die without human intervention.

The Prince William Sound has always been abundant with water-loving birds – including ducks, murres,
cormorants and grebes. It's estimated by wildlife biologists that 90,000 to 270,000 birds died and disappeared in
the sound following the spill. Biologists also counted over 1,000 dead sea otters.

New stabilization protocols developed

The Exxon Valdez disaster was the first major spill where field stabilization and transport were utilized
extensively.  In order to cover the vast coastline that had been oiled, four regional centers were set up at Valdez,
Seward, Homer and Kodiak Island. Birds were often kept overnight on boats in the most remote areas. 

Stabilization consists of warming or cooling birds to help maintain a normal body temperature, providing oral
fluids to combat dehydration and providing them with much needed rest in a dark quiet place.  After initial
stabilization birds can be transported to the main rehabilitation center. 

After the stabilization, even the five-hour boat ride over rough waters to the nearest center increased the chances
of survival.  If not for this basic field stabilization and transport many more birds would have lost their lives to
the Exxon disaster.

Alyeska, the oil response association that represents seven oil companies who operate in Valdez, including
Exxon, assumed responsibility for the cleanup. Alyeska later opened an emergency communications center in
Valdez after the spill and set up a second operations center in Anchorage, Alaska.

The Valdez ship changes names

After being repaired, the oil tanker was renamed the "Sea River Mediterranean," later shortened to "S/R
Mediterranean," then to simply "Mediterranean" and sailed under the Marshall Island flag. Although Exxon
tried to return the ship to its Alaskan fleet, it was prohibited by law from entering Prince William Sound.

Lawsuit update

One of the longest cases in maritime history finally wound its way through the U.S. Court system. In June 2008
the U.S. Supreme Court finally voted 5-3, to reduce $2.5 billion punitive damages award to no more than
$507.5 million. The case is Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 07-219.

Earlier a lower court awarded $5 Billion in damages to area fishermen who lost revenue after the spill. Another
court cut that award in half to $2.5 Billion.

Exxon Valdez by the numbers

11 MILLION: Gallons of oil spilled into Prince William Sound from the Exxon Valdez in 1989

470 MILES: Distance the spilled oil drifted from Bligh Reef to the village of Chignik on the Alaska Peninsula

1,300 MILES: Miles of oiled shoreline, 200 of them heavily or moderately oiled

$2.1 BILLION: Amount Exxon estimates it spent cleaning up after the tanker spill over the following four
summers

$1.045 BILLION: Amount Exxon paid in 1990s in criminal fines and civil settlements

$2.5 BILLION: Punitive damages the federal appeals court awarded in 2006

$2.271 BILLION: Accrued interest on the $2.5 billion punitive damages award

$781 MILLION: Lawyers' cut of the $4.8 billion, assuming that figure stands

$3.1 BILLION: Plaintiffs estimated share of the $4.8 billion

$465 MILLION: Cook Inlet drift fleet's estimated share of the $4.8 billion

$800,000: Estimated average payout to a Cook Inlet drift permit holder*

$92: Estimated share for the Peninsula Aleutians roe herring fishermen

30,000: Number of plaintiffs

8,000: Estimated number of plaintiffs who have died since the spill

$40.6 BILLION: Exxon's estimated profit last year

$7.6 BILLION: Estimated cash dividends Exxon paid to its shareholders last year

* The amount each plaintiff would get depends on their catch history in the years before the spill.

Source: Alaska Daily News (Plaintiffs attorneys, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustees Council, Exxon Mobil Corp.)
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