Huge Oil Spill Fouls Alaskan Waters - March 1989

The largest oil spill in U.S. history occured after a tanker struck a reef in Alaska's Prince Edward Sound, March 24. The Exxon Valdez struck Blight Reef, about 25 miles from the town of Valdez, the southern terminus of the pipeline that carried oil from northern Alaska. The tanker, which was off course, was being piloted by the third mate instead of by the captain, Joseph Hazelwood. Exxon Corporation announced, March 25, that it accepted full financial responsiblility for the spill, which was initially estimated at 240,000 barrels. The 987-foot tanker had been carrying 1,260,000 barrels of crude oil, some of which was being siphoned into another ship. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, the oil-company consortium that operated the pipeline, had said that there would be a spill containment team at Valdez, but that turned out to consist only of a barge that happened to be in drydock with a hold in its side. A skimming technique removed only a small portion of the oil. Exxon announced, March 26, it was ready to deploy a dispersant, but winds up to 73 miles and hour, March 27, thwarted that effort. The economic and environmental dimensions of the disaster grew daily. The fishing industry was temporarily wiped out, and the pictures on television of dying birds and otters, soaked with oil, stunned the nation. Exxon said, March 28, that it was impossible to contain the spill. Valdez Mayor John Devens said, March 28, that his community felt betrayed by Exxon. By March 29, the spill extended 45 miles. On hearing a report from federal officials after their return to Alaska, Pres. George Bush called the spill "a major tragedy," but the administration decided not to take over the cleanup. Having tested Capt. Hazelwood, the Coast Guard announced, March 30, that he had an unacceptably high level of alcohol in his blood. The FBI opened an investigation into the spill, March 31.