Policy lessons from Exxon Valdez spill
- Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Juneau (United States)
The wreck of the Exxon Valdez in Prince william sound in Alaska leaves in its aftermath grave policy questions about how much risk the public should be asked to bear and how much industry should be required to do to prevent oil spills and to clean them up when they occur. But because of industry's inadequate response to the Exxon Valdez spill, this catastrophe will provide few solid answers say the authors. The results of the accident were clearly catastrophic: 1,200 miles of polluted shorelines, 260,000 to 580,000 dead birds, decreased biological productivity, and disruption of life and business in scores of seashore communities. As with any accident, prevention and preparedness are the twin concepts that underlie most post-accident policy analyses. Actions since the accident by both Congress and the state of Alaska to prevent such spills in the future are useful, kelso and Brown note. The lack of effective technology to clean up large oil spills was dramatically demonstrated in this incident, they add, making a national research and development undertaking essential. Public involvement in establishing standards for spill prevention, response preparedness, and cleanup is vital, Kelso and Brown emphasize, because in the final analysis, it is the public that is hurt if the prevention and response systems break down.
- OSTI ID:
- 7078248
- Journal Information:
- Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States), Vol. 6:4; ISSN 0887-8218
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ALASKA
OIL SPILLS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LAND POLLUTION CONTROL
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC POLICY
REMEDIAL ACTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
CONTROL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION CONTROL
USA
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
294002 - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
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& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)