EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL: Ten Years Later
by Pamela A. Miller, Arctic Connections 3/99
I am satisfied that tanker traffic to and from Port Valdez, and operation of an oil port there will not cause any significant damage to the marine environment or to fisheries interests."
--L.R. Beyon, British Petroleum Environmental Studies speaking for Alyeska in 1971
Our nation's largest oil spill.
Four minutes after midnight on March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez hit Bligh Reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Eleven million gallons of oil spewed into one of the most bountiful marine ecosystems in the world. It killed birds, marine mammals, and fish and devastated the ecosystem in the oil's path. North Slope crude spoiled lands and waters that had sustained Alaska Native people for millennia.
Exxon says that the Sound has recovered. They’re wrong.
Could it happen again?
Before the Exxon Valdez spill, conservationists warned about the potential impacts of a major spill. In fact, just hours before the disaster, a group of Valdez residents had gathered at the city council chambers to discuss the impact of oil on their community. When the conversation turned to response to a major spill, Dr. Riki Ott, a fisherwoman and toxicologist from Cordova said, “It’s not a matter of what if, but when.”[1]
Today, conservationists are again sounding the alarm about several risky oil development schemes and practices in Alaska.
· First, the vast majority of oil shipped from Valdez is carried in aging tankers. Few have double-hulls and those are more than 20 years old.
· Second, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which carries oil from the North Slope to the port of Valdez, is aging, mismanaged, and in dire need of additional repairs. In the last 20 years, there have been dozens of leaks, and workers have been continually mistreated or intimidated from reporting the company’s environmental abuses to regulators.
· Third, British Petroleum’s proposed Northstar project would require the construction of the first ever sub-sea crude oil pipeline in the Arctic Ocean. Buried beneath the sea ice, leaks from the pipeline would be difficult to detect and impossible to clean up. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates there is up to a one-in-four (11-24%) chance of a major spill at Northstar.[2]
· Lastly, BP, ARCO, Chevron and Exxon are lobbying Congress for the right to erect hundreds of miles of pipelines, roads, drilling pads, gravel mines, and other industrial facilities in the biological heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – its 1.5 million acre coastal plain. Known as “America’s Serengeti” for its abundance of wildlife, the Arctic Refuge is critical denning habitat for polar bears, calving grounds for caribou, and home to wolves, muskoxen, and millions of migratory birds. The U.S. Interior Department warns development of the coastal plain could lead to major declines in wildlife populations and forever alter the fragile tundra landscape.
Ironically, the American Petroleum Institute wrote in a New York Times letter on March 24, 1989, “the petroleum industry would develop the potentially vast resources of the coastal plain (of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) with great care and utilize the increasingly sophisticated environmental technology available.” A key Senate Committee had passed legislation allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just a week prior to the spill.[3] A week after the catastrophe, President George Bush still saw “no connection” between the Exxon Valdez spill and the push for new Arctic oil development; Senator Frank Murkowski continued to promote drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
This changed quickly as the reality set in. “The train was moving pretty rapidly out of the station,” said Senator Joe Leiberman, “Now they’ve put the brakes on it and put it into reverse.”[4] An Arctic Refuge drilling bill introduced in the House of Representatives the day before the spill was dead on arrival. Returning from Valdez, Congressman George Miller said “leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil development would be irresponsible in the wake of the huge Exxon spill.”[5] He launched investigations (which lasted many years) into the entire oil production and transportation system in Alaska, saying that the spill was “no accident… but rather the tragic result of a systematic assault by the oil industry that rendered ineffective the entire system of regulatory safeguards.”
“Despite what President Bush has stated, there is a direct, inescapable connection between the Arctic and Prince William Sound,” said the Sierra Club’s Michael Fisher. They are connected by the same regulations, the same contingency plans, the same processes, the same product and the same politics.”[6] His reflections to the Senate are as apt today as in the immediate aftermath of the spill:
“But it doesn’t take a disaster to destroy wilderness. The hundreds of miles of pipelines, roads, docks, causeways, airstrips, the thousands of personnel, the constant roar of trucks, planes, and the drilling equipment itself destroy the wilderness even if it is carried on with immaculate care….
We all mourn for Prince William Sound and the life that is no more. And it is also common to feel anger. Anger over broken promises. Anger over lies. Anger over greed, arrogance, and ineptitude. Anger that so few can destroy so much. Anger can be constructive, but only if we use its energy to undertake constructive tasks. Let us apply ourselves to protect our wild places, our last wild places, from ever being victims of another disaster.”[7]
Effects of the spill.
Extent of the spill. In the 1989 spill, crude oil spread across Alaska's coastal seas covering 10,000 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and 25 Washington, D.C.’s combined![8]
Within a week, currents and winds pushed the slick 90 miles from the site of the tanker, out of Prince William Sound into the Gulf of Alaska. It eventually reached nearly 600 miles away from the wreck[9] contaminating 1,500 miles of shoreline-- about the length of California's coast.
Highest toll of birds and mammals ever
"What surprised me most was the silence."
-- Dan Lawn, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, April 9, 1989[10]
The spill hit just as the coast stirred with spring life. Zooplankton and phytoplankton beginning to bloom. Salmon fry emerging from gravel beds in freshwater streams, herring returning to spawn. Soon, migratory birds began nesting. It was just before peak pupping for sea otters, seals, and sea lions, and when marine mammals concentrate in coastal waters to eat herring, krill, and salmon.[11]
More marine mammals and birds died than in any other oil spill. Some populations, like harbor seal, were already declining so the spill added insult to injury. Only 2 of 26 species studied by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council have recovered (bald eagle and river otter).[12] "The Exxon Valdez spill killed nearly ten times as many birds as any other U.S. or European oil spill," said seabird expert Dr. Michael Fry. As many as half a million birds died. Over 30,000 carcasses of 90 species of birds were plucked from the beaches, but this is only a fraction of the actual mortality.[13] Harm to birds from chronic effects and decreased reproduction continues to the present.
Some fish died but the most serious damage was to their critical spawning and rearing habitats. Salmon spawn in the intertidal zone, herring in the subtidal zone on kelp, and Dolly varden and cutthroat trout feed in shallow water. Over 100 salmon streams were oiled.[14]
STATE OF THE SOUND
Toxic effects linger.
To the naked eye, Prince William Sound may appear “normal.” But if you look beneath the surface, oil continues to contaminate beaches, national parks, and designated wilderness. In fact, the Office of Technology Assessment estimated beach cleanup and oil skinning only recovered 3-4% of the Exxon Valdez oil and studies by government scientists estimated that only 14% of the oil was removed during cleanup operations.[15]
A decade later, the ecosystem still suffers. Substantial contamination of mussel beds persists and this remarkably unweathered oil is a continuing source of toxic hydrocarbons.[16] Sea otters, river otters, Barrow’s goldeneyes, and harlequin ducks have showed evidence of continued hydrocarbon exposure in the past few years.[17]
The depressed population of Pacific herring – a critical source of food for over 40 predators including seabirds, harbor seals and Steller sea lions – is having severe impacts up the food chain. Wildlife population declines continue for harbor seal, killer whales, harlequin ducks, common loon, pigeon guillemot, and pelagic, red-faced cormorant, and double-crested cormorants.
Exxon-funded scientists have repeatedly dismissed evidence of on-going effects to wildlife from the massive 1989 oil spill by claiming that oil seeps contribute a bigger background source of hydrocarbons in bottom sediments in Prince William Sound.[18] Yet, they dismiss coal as a possible source due to ignoring location of known deposits and other factors about its “fingerprint.” A new study by the National Marine Fisheries Service concluded that the source is coal, and that coal hydrocarbons are not chemically available to impact wildlife.[19]
Oil is more toxic than thought.
Even before the spill, scientists knew that a drop of oil could kill a bird’s egg. But after studying the impact of the Valdez spill, they now believe oil pollution is at least 100 times more toxic to fish than previously known. It is also more persistent.
In Katmai National Park wilderness, oil remained along the rocky coast with only slight weathering compared to freshly spilled oil after more than 5 years. Chemically, it was like 11-day old Exxon Valdez crude, with high concentrations of toxic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s).[20] In the past, it was presumed that wave action would have rapidly removed oil in such areas. Future releases of toxic oil can still affect wildlife.
New studies by the National Marine Fisheries Service show that even very low levels of weathered Exxon Valdez oil (0.5 to 1 part per billion PAH’s) are toxic at the early life stages of salmon and herring.[21] This data on toxicity to salmon eggs shows that current Alaska water quality standards allow hydrocarbon levels that can impair reproduction.
Exxon Valdez spill resulted in profound physiological effects to fish and wildlife. These included reproductive failure, genetic damage, curved spines, lowered growth and body weights, altered feeding habits, reduced egg volume, liver damage, eye tumors, and debilitating brain lesions.
Lasting Harm to Communities.
SUBSISTENCE
"The excitement of the season had just begun, and then, we heard the news, oil in the water, lots of oil killing lots of water. It's too shocking to understand. Never in the millennium of our tradition have we thought it possible for the water to die, but its true."
-- The late Chief Walter Meganack, Port Graham, 1989[22]
· Subsistence harvests of fish and wildlife substantially declined by Alaska Native communities after the spill and continue to be affected.
· Villagers have been forced to rely on different resources since there is still a scarcity of important subsistence resources like harbor seals, herring, clams, and crab. Hunters must travel farther, spend more time, money and effort to feed their families.
· “The oil spill with its devastation affected our subsistence way of life and resources,” said Gary Kompkoff from the village of Tatitlek in 1999. “Subsistence is too important to have recovered from an incident caused by carelessness and negligence. We always have been able to rely on the land to provide for us—to be forced to stop harvesting in traditional areas we’ve always relied upon is hard to get over.”
FISHERIES
· Commercial salmon and herring fisheries closed in oiled areas in 1989, including in Prince William Sound, most of Cook Inlet, and most of the Kodiak area. Shrimp, blackcod, bottomfish and crab fisheries were also closed.
· Five years after the spill, 100 fishing boats blockaded tanker traffic at Valdez Narrows for 2 days when wild pink salmon runs plummeted. These fish were the first wild runs that left Prince William Sound during the oil spill. Banks had already repossessed 70 Cordova fishing boats. In 1993, the Pacific herring season in the Sound was cut short when schools failed to show up, and in 1994 to 1996 the season never opened. The herring fishery remained limited in 1997 and 1998.
· Ten years after the spill, and five years after a jury ordered Exxon to pay $5 billion in punitive damages, Exxon has yet to pay any of this judgement to injured fishermen, Native Americans, and landowners.
HUMAN HEALTH
· 20 communities were in the oil's path where it caused major social and psychological impact like depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.[23] This injury continues in places like Cordova today.
· Cleanup workers faced average oil mist exposure 12 times in excess of the regulatory limits, with a maximum exposure 400 times higher during hot water beach washing. In 1989, 1,811 workers filed compensation claims, primarily for respiratory system damage, according to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.[24]
****** CHART *********** CONTINUING TOLL[25]
MARINE MAMMALS
Sea otters -- 3,500 to 5,500 died. Continued exposure to hydrocarbons in 1998. Populations in heavily oiled bays not recovered.
Harbor seals -- 300 died. Most seals and pups oiled at contaminated haulouts. From 1989 to 1997, the population has declined 35% and continues downward.
Killer whales – Up to 22 died. Unprecedented mortality of females with calves. Males with collapsed dorsal fins subsequently died. Not recovered.
BIRDS
Common murres -- 175,000-300,000 killed. Minimum of 300,000 chicks lost, complete breeding failures at several large colonies from 1989 to 1991. El nino has set back recovery that was occurring.
Other seabirds -- 375,000 to 435,000 died. Declines of 16 species compared with earlier baseline surveys, including loons, black oystercatchers, pigeon guillemots, pelagic and red-faced cormorants, scoters, Barrow’s goldeneye, mergansers. Not recovered.
Harlequin ducks -- 400-1,000 died. Decreased molting populations and wintering survival for females in oiled areas, and evidence of exposure to hydrocarbons in tissues through 1998. Not recovered.
Marbled murrelets – 12,800 to 14,800 died. A large part of the world’s population at risk from the spill; Prince William Sound numbers declined 67% since the 1970’s. Population continued to decline to 1991. Not recovered.
Loons - 395 carcasses, 4 loon species. Common loons have small, slow reproducing populations. Not recovering.
FISH
Pacific herring -- Most salmon spawning and feeding habitats in Prince William Sound were oiled, causing egg and larval mortality and physical deformities. Unprecedented population crash in 1993, first year eggs laid in 1989 should have returned. Not recovered.
Pink salmon -- Increased mortality of eggs in oiled streams. Lower adult survival and juvenile growth rates and gross abnormalities in young fish in oiled streams. Oil-spill related collapses in pink salmon populations in 1992 and 1993. Some spawning streams still oiled. Not recovered.
Dolly varden -- Lower adult survival through 1991 in oiled areas. Rate of recovery unknown.
Cutthroat trout – At its northwest limit in Prince William Sound, its isolated ranges are highly vulnerable to pollution. Lower rates of growth persisted through 1991. Recovery rate unknown.
Rockfish, other marine fish -- Rockfish died from ingestion of oil and had sublethal injuries. Hydrocarbons were found in halibut; pollack; rock, yellowfin, Dover, and flathead sole; Pacific cod; and sablefish. Recovery rates unknown.
HABITAT
National Parks -- Oiled Kenai Fiords, Katmai, and Aniakchak National Park and Preserve. Buried oil remains in park beaches.
National Wildlife Refuges -- Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula/ Becharof, Alaska Maritime refuges oiled. Resources not recovered.
Chugach National Forest -- Wilderness study area oiled. Forest resources still injured.
Designated Wilderness -- Oiled Katmai National Park, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Fiords National Park wilderness study area, and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. Invasion of more than 11,000 clean up workers, boats, and helicopters on remote beaches harmed wilderness values throughout spill area. Permanent loss.
Intertidal Communities – 1,500 miles of beaches harmed. Recent studies revealed that even on “cleaned-up” washed beaches, mollusks and other invertebrates were far less abundant than on comparable unspoiled beaches. Not recovered.
Subtidal Communities – Habitats providing shelter and food for an array of fishes, birds, and marine mammals were oiled, killing snails, clams, sea urchins, and invertebrates. Evidence of oil contamination in sediments, reduced abundance of clams and altered community composition persists. Not recovered.
Archeological Sites -- 24 sites were damaged by the spill and cleanup. Permanent injury.
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