Alaska's response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00013a601· OSTI ID:6090519

Kelso, D D; Kendziorek, M ^[1]

---

1. Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Juneau (USA)

The primary lesson of the Exxon Valdez spill is that oil spill prevention and response technologies need substantial, sustained research and development. There must be adequate amounts of equipment in place in time to properly respond to an oil spill. Management systems need to be improved so they effectively use these technologies. The combination of inadequate technology, insufficient amounts of response equipment, and ineffective management of the available resources produced serious problems in the initial response. Exxon eventually deployed large amounts of equipment and personnel. By the time the long-term shoreline treatment phase began, Exxon had also improved the management of its operations. However, at that point, much of the damage had already occurred. The extent of injury to natural resource is now being assessed through scientific studies. Based on the results of these studies, the final step in the response will be restoration projects which are now in the planning stage. In light of the experience with the Exxon Valdez spill, state and federal laws have been strengthened to provide better prevention measures, response planning, and in-region cleanup capacity. As with most pollution problems, prevention - through both management and technology - should be the first line of defense.

• OSTI ID: 6090519
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA) Vol. 25:1; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
COMPILED DATA
CONTAINMENT
DATA
EMERGENCY PLANS
GULF OF ALASKA
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS