An oil spill that threatened to eclipse even the exxon valdez disaster spread out of control and drifted inexorably toward the gulf coast as fishermen rushed to scoop up shrimp and crews spread. Five years ago this week, engineers stopped the deepwater horizon dwh oil spillthe largest one in u. An oil tanker, the exxon valdez, hit a reef in prince william sound, alaska. Oct 02, 2019 among the oil spills occurred in the last five decades, exxon valdez oil spill remains a prominent one. The incident has both shortterm and longterm implications. Dec 09, 20 in 1989, a tanker ran aground off the coast of alaska, causing one of the worst oil spills in united states history. Clicktap on the map for a larger view download this graphic.
Mar 24, 2014 exxon valdez oil spill workers and maxibarge hose beach after corexit test on quayle beach, smith lsland in prince william sound, alaska, us, on 7 august 1989. Perspectives on the exxon valdez oil spill 10 history. A critical first obstacle in the attempt to get a handle on the dwh spill was obtaining an accurate determination of the flow rate. Nearly 25 years later, the lessons of the exxon valdez continue to resonate. When the tanker exxon valdez ran aground, oilspill plans were in place, but the equipment wasnt nearby. May 04, 2010 the exxon valdez was loaded with a much heavier crude oil than the socalled sweet, light crude gushing into the gulf. Exxon valdez oil spill simple english wikipedia, the. The exxon valdez was loaded with a much heavier crude oil than the socalled sweet, light crude gushing into the gulf. Exxon valdez oil spill restoration plan 2014 update injured resources and services adopted november 19, 2014 exxon valdez oil spill trustee council grace hall, 4230 university drive, ste. Exxon faced criminal charges after its 1989 tanker spill in alaska. Rockefellerss standard oil, exxonmobil ranked number one in 2011 in americas largest corporations by fortune 500 magazine. Timeline of environmental recovery from exxon valdez oil spill. Exxon valdez was the original name of an oil tanker owned by the former exxon corporation.
Valdez at press conferences this week marking the end of exxons summer cleanup of its march 24 oil spill, exxon, state officials and environmentalists all displayed rocks. The exxon valdez oil spill was a shipping accident that happened off the coast of the united states on march 24, 1989. Oil spill the exxon valdez disaster documentary about the exxon valdez, the giant supertanker that ran aground on bligh reef in alaskas prince william sound on. Wikimedia commons has media related to exxon valdez ship, 1986. The exxon valdez, 25 years later national ocean service. For example, if the valdez had actually had a double hull like they promised it would, around 60% less oil. March 26, 2014 the lives of fishermen in alaska were forever changed after the exxon valdez oil spill more than two decades. In 1989, an exxon tanker spilled millions of gallons of toxic oil into alaskas prince william sound. Criminal charges were leveled after exxon valdez spill. In march of 1989, the exxon valdez oil tanker ran aground on bligh reef in prince william sound, alaska. On march 24, 1989, shortly after midnight, the oil tanker exxon valdez struck bligh reef in prince william sound, alaska, spilling more than 11 million gallons of crude oil. It is widely considered the number one spill worldwide in terms of damage to the environment, however. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the exxon valdez oil spill webquest print page.
Mar 01, 2011 the exxon valdez oil spill a true book paperback march 1, 2011. Exxon valdez oil spill restoration plan 2014 update. The exxon valdez oil spill a true book paperback march 1, 2011. The effects of this disaster as long with many others could have been reduced radically or even prevented if they had only followed security protocol and requirements for their equipment. In march of 1989 the exxon valdez, loaded with 1,264,155 barrels of north slope crude oil ran aground on bligh reef in the northeastern portion of prince william sound. Exxon was widely criticized for its slow response to cleaning up the disaster and john devens, the. How the exxon valdez disaster changed americas oil spill emergency management. In this episode, we talk with noaa marine biologist gary shigenaka to find out how marine life in prince william sound, alaska, is faring today. Apr 21, 1989 the exxon corporations reputation was bound to suffer after the exxon valdez ran aground off alaska and dumped 250,000 barrels of oil into prince william sound. The exxon corporations reputation was bound to suffer after the exxon valdez ran aground off alaska and dumped 250,000 barrels of oil into prince william sound. Timeline of recovery from exxon valdez oil spill twentyfive years after what used to be the largest oil spill in u.
In 1989, the exxon valdez oil spill polluted waterways and killed the fish that. Resources lost from the exxon valdez oil spill could have. Remembering the exxon valdez oil spill the atlantic. At the time of the disaster, the ship carried 53,094,510 u. Just under a year after the exxon valdez oil spill, a federal grand jury indicted exxon and its shipping subsidiary on five. Dec 10, 20 the lasting impact of the exxon valdez oil spill disaster on a cold march night in 1989, the tanker exxon valdez ran aground off the coast of southern alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of prince william sound and creating one of the worst oil spills in american history. The exxon valdez oil spill was a manmade disaster that occurred when exxon valdez, an oil tanker owned by the exxon shipping company. However, this and other studies suggests the remaining oil is sequestered, or buried, and currently is not posing a risk to the coastal and marine ecosystem. The exxon valdez oil spill a 1989 oil spill disaster in prince william sound and its surrounding coastlines in alaska.
Kym robinson comm 642 case study summary exxon and the valdez oil spill background as a direct descendent of john d. It caused lasting impacts on the environment and maritime economy of the valdezcordova census area. Cleanup crews performed a few different methods, some of which may have caused even more harm. The lasting impact of the exxon valdez oil spill disaster. The exxon valdez oil spill occurred in prince william sound, alaska, march 24, 1989, when exxon valdez, an oil tanker owned by exxon shipping company, bound for long beach, california, struck prince william sounds bligh reef, 1. Lingering oil from exxon valdez spill noaa fisheries. In the accident that took place almost 30 years ago, over 11 million gallons of crude oil was released into the waters of the gulf of alaska, hurting the ecosystem badly as it killed hundreds of thousands of species. The spill remains the largest environmental disaster of its kind and is twice as big as the iconic exxon valdez 6 years earlier. Alaskan regional response team report on the exxon valdez disaster. The exxon valdez spill, though still one of the largest ever in the united states, has dropped from the top 50 internationally view a list of top oil spills worldwide. In 1989, a tanker ran aground off the coast of alaska, causing one of the worst oil spills in united states history. The exxon valdez, 25 years later noaas national ocean service. The exxon valdez oil spill full documentary youtube. Oil spill trustee council evostc is one of the eight founding partners of the alaska resources library and information services arlis and has entrusted arlis with its extensive collection of materials on the.
Clean up of the exxon valdez spill stanford university. An eighteen foot wide hole was ripped into the hull, and 10. The exxon valdez oil spill occurred in prince william sound, alaska, march 24, 1989, when. The 1989 exxon valdez oil spill released millions of gallons of crude oil into prince william sound alaska. March 24, 1989 the exxon valdez oil tanker was carrying more than 50 million gallons of crude oil when it left valdez, alaska, on march 23, 1989. Remembering the exxon valdez oil spill 30 years later. It was also a lot colder in alaska, making the heavy oil even more. Exxon and the valdez oil spill 6232011 the oil company exxon as well as prince william sound and the alaskan town of valdez experienced the exxon valdez oil spill. Exxon valdez creates oil slick disaster an oil tanker has run aground on a reef off the alaskan coast, releasing gallons of crude oil into the sea. Mar 16, 2017 march 24, 1989 the exxon valdez oil tanker was carrying more than 50 million gallons of crude oil when it left valdez, alaska, on march 23, 1989.
Estimated disaster amount 11 million gallons 257,000 barrels estimated amount remaining 21,000 gallons. Bp played central role in botched containment of 1989 exxon valdez disaster video report by democracy now. In march 1989, the exxon valdez oil tanker grounded on bligh reef in prince william sound alaska, perforating its single hull, and releasing 10. We also look at lessons we might learn from this environmental disaster in light of growing oil exploration and.
How the exxon valdez disaster changed americas oil spill. Aug 02, 2012 the exxon valdez spill, though still one of the largest ever in the united states, has dropped from the top 50 internationally view a list of top oil spills worldwide. It gained widespread infamy after the march 24, 1989 oil spill in which the tanker hit prince william. Gulf oil spill could eclipse exxon valdez disaster. Exxon valdez oil spill workers and maxibarge hose beach after corexit test on quayle beach, smith lsland in prince william sound, alaska, us, on 7 august 1989. Exxon valdez spill profile emergency response us epa.
Exposures and health status among workers from the exxon valdez oil spill. Bp, not exxon, caused the exxon valdez disaster greg palast. Among the oil spills occurred in the last five decades, exxon valdez oil spill remains a prominent one. With colin salmon, don cornett, steve cowper, mark delozier. A small portion of the oil from the 1989 exxon valdez spill still lingers in patches beneath prince william sound, alaska, beaches. The spill has affected directly the livelihoods of many alaskans. The exxon valdez oil spill in 1989 killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds and brought commercial fishing in some of alaskas most productive waters to a standstill.
Exxon valdez case study crisis management and strategies. Prior to the deepwater horizon spill in the gulf of mexico, the exxon valdez was the largest spill to ever occur in u. This bibliography is a select list of books, videos and dvds, websites and articles from a variety of sources pertaining to the exxon valdez oil spill and related topics, chosen for their appeal to teachers, students of all ages, and the general public. Oil spill facts exxon valdez oil spill trustee council. Following up on the exxon valdez oil spill in prince william sound, alaska, this photoessay begins by describing how it happened and the environmental disaster it caused. No one anticipated any unusual problems as the exxon valdez left the alyeska pipeline terminal at 9. After focusing briefly on the devastation to individual species of wildlife and efforts to help them recover, the book considers how the oil spill has affected communities in the area as well as the state of prince william. The exxon valdez got into trouble in prince william sound when it hit bligh reef, splitting its side open and releasing oil, with reports of an eightmile 12. The exxon baton rouge smaller ship on left attempts to offload crude oil from the exxon valdez after the valdez ran aground in prince william sound near valdez, alaska, on march 26, 1989. For example, if the valdez had actually had a double hull like they promised it would, around 60% less oil would have spilled. Oil spills in the wake of the exxon valdez disaster. The council is inviting proposals to document the history of oil spill contingency planning and oil discharge prevention and contingency plan approvals for oil tankers serving alyeska pipeline service companys alyeska valdez marine terminal over the past 30 years.
The exxon valdez got into trouble in prince william sound when it hit bligh reef, splitting its side open and releasing oil, with reports of. Oil spills national institute of environmental health sciences nih. Sep 27, 2016 exxon faced criminal charges after its 1989 tanker spill in alaska. Correspondent explores some arguments about the aftereffects of one of the worlds worst oilspills. Jul 15, 2015 five years ago this week, engineers stopped the deepwater horizon dwh oil spillthe largest one in u. Prince william sound is a region rich in biological diversity, and the oil spill has caused ecological harm. The exxon valdez oil spill occurred march 24, 1989, in prince william sound. Exxon as well as everyone involved in this crisis including the citizens of alaska as well as the people working with. Crucial time passed before containment and cleanup efforts began. Exxon valdez oil spill brings bad juju and pain 25 years later. All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at exxon valdez oil spill. The project has developed awarenesslevel training materials for disaster workers, disaster.
Valdez at press conferences this week marking the end of exxon s summer cleanup of its march 24 oil spill, exxon, state officials and environmentalists all displayed rocks. Foretold disaster the exxon valdez oil spill midnight. On march 24, 1989, the tanker exxon valdez grounded on bligh reef in alaskas prince william sound, rupturing its hull and spilling nearly 11 million gallons of prudhoe bay crude oil into a remote, scenic, and biologically productive body of water prior to the 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill, it was the largest single oil spill in u. Exxon and the valdez oil spill crisis management and.
Apr 29, 2010 an oil spill that threatened to eclipse even the exxon valdez disaster spread out of control and drifted inexorably toward the gulf coast as fishermen rushed to scoop up shrimp and crews spread. Feb 20, 2018 exxon valdez was the original name of an oil tanker owned by the former exxon corporation. On a cold march night in 1989, the tanker exxon valdez ran aground off the coast of southern alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of prince william sound and creating. The bp oil spill disaster and the future of energy in america mit pr ess, 2011. The lasting impact of the exxon valdez oil spill disaster on a cold march night in 1989, the tanker exxon valdez ran aground off the coast of southern alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of prince william sound and creating one of the worst oil spills in american history. Little has changed in how we respond to oil spills in the arctic. The exxon valdez oil spill occurred in prince william sound, alaska, on march 24, 1989, when exxon valdez, an oil tanker bound for long beach, california. Because it is so well known, the valdez oil spill is an excellent example of a thorough root cause analysis investigation shortly after midnight on march 24, 1989, the valdez, transporting crude oil from alaska to california, struck bligh reef. The spill occurred in 1989 when the tanker exxon valdez. Lessons learned from the exxon valdez and deepwater. Aug 11, 2017 on a cold march night in 1989, the tanker exxon valdez ran aground off the coast of southern alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of prince william sound and creating.