Exxon Valdez controversy revived

Journal Article · Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6450200

Four years after its occurrence rocked the petroleum industry and revitalized the US environmental movement, the Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill off Alaska continues to stir controversy. Conflicting reports abound over whether there is long term damage to the Prince William Sound ecosystem resulting from the March 24, 1989, spill. Government scientists at recent conferences disclosed studies they contend show long term, significant damage to the sound. Exxon this month launched a counteroffensive, disclosing results of studies it funded that it claims show no credible scientific evidence of long term damage. At the same time, the company blasted as flawed the government's data on assessing environmental damage to the sound and charged that test samples from the sound were mishandled. Meantime, Prince William Sound still shows lingering effects from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. But recovery has been so rapid that there is more controversy over how to use $900 million in natural resource recovery funds that Exxon paid than over how badly species are suffering. The paper describes Exxon's studies; faulty data; lingering damage; and an update on tanker safety.

• OSTI ID: 6450200
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Vol. 91:17; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
OIL SPILLS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ACCURACY
DAMAGE
DATA
ECOSYSTEMS
SAFETY ENGINEERING
TANKER SHIPS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENGINEERING
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
SHIPS
USA
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
540350 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)
540250 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)