The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: In Retrospect

Anchal SoodSanjana Suresh

Overview Introduction – a video about what

caused the oil spill Aftereffects and Mitigation strategies Effect on Ecosystems and biodiversity Solutions - Changing policies and

Economic perspectives Deep Water Horizon oil spill Who pays the price? – Tragedy of the

commons

Introduction http://www.travelchannel.com/video/

what-caused-exxon-valdez-spill 1.06- 2.30

Source: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/161185/

Aftereffects and Mitigation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Clean up efforts:• 11,000 personnel• 1,400 vessels • 85 aircraft

Many local, state, federal, and private agencies and groups.

Largest clean up effort till the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Source: The Environment Protection Agency,Exxon Valdezhttp://www.epa.gov/oem/content/learning/exxon.htm

During clean up, the oil continued to spread over Valdez area.

2 days after spill – strong storm that hit the Alaskan coast, transforming spilled oil into mousse and tar balls

Volume 3 times larger than pure oil spilled, making the clean up effort much more difficult.

Source: Encyclopedia of Earth , Exxon Valdex Oil Spill http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/161185/

Immediately after the spill all channels to and from Valdez were shut

Three methods were tried in the effort to clean up the spill:

Burning Mechanical Cleanup Chemical Dispersants

Effects on Ecosystem and Biodiversity

The oil persisted for decades resulting in 3 lethal aftereffects – • Population impact to species in shallow waters

• Delayed population impact to marine and bird species

• Indirect effect on other species, including humans.

Source: alskanwildlife.blogspot.com

Mass mortalities• 2800 sea otters• 250,000 sea birds• 302 harbor seals• 22 killer whales

Alaskan Herring virtually vanished for about 3 years after, came back with various structural defects.

Economic Effects Fishing losses Drop in tourism - monetary losses to

local industries Replacement cost of birds and

mammals Long term economic planning for the

affected area Court settlement with Exxon for the

area itself and the wildlife.Surce: NOAA – Alaskan Fisherieshttp://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/oil/

Policy Changes and Policy Effects Oil Pollution Act of 1990 –United

States Congress.• Double-hulled tankers by the year 2015• New technology introduced - The combined

ability of skimming systems to remove oil from the water is now 10 times greater than it was in 1989.

Source: New York Times- Lessons from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/booming/lessons-from-the-exxon-valdez-oil-spill.html?_r=0

Tragedy of the Commons Comparison between Exxon Valdez and BP

oil Spill Gulf of Mexico - fishing hotspot, destroyed

many species and livelihoods of diff nationalities.

The oceans are a controversial geo-political issue when it comes to oil spills making the common man the most vulnerable in this situation.

Deep Water Horizon- A vicious cycle? Source: Encyclopedia of Earth ,Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152720/

References http://www.travelchannel.com/video/what-

caused-exxon-valdez-spill http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/161185/ http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/oil/ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152720/ http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/learning/

exxon.htm alskanwildlife.blogspot.com www.epa.gov/oem/content/learning/exxon www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/booming/lessons-

from-the-exxon-valdez-oil-spill.html?_r=0