Exxon Valdez Oil Spill By Ruke Abamwa Exxon

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill By: Ruke Abamwa

Exxon Valdez Spill? The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker struck a Bligh Reef in the Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 24, 1989 � 260, 000 -750, 000 barrels of crude oil were spilled into the Gulf of Alaska � The oil spill covered 11, 000 square miles of the ocean � Oil was spread 1, 300 miles along the shore line � This tragic accident was known to be one of the most destructive human-caused environmental disasters �

Causes � Failure to properly maneuver the vessel � Failure to provide a proper navigation system � Failure to supervise and provide a rested and sufficient crew � Failure to repair the sonar that would have informed the crew members that there was a reef ahead � Failure to provide an effective vessel traffic system

Effects- Economic Impacts � � � The death of at least 250, 000 seabirds, 2, 800 otters, 12 river otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 bald eagles, and 22 orcas Wildlife populations started to decline About 20, 000 gallons of oil flooded deep into sands in intertidal zones, slowly killing ducks and other animals of the coast The spill caused over $300 million of economic harm It effected people who lived near the sound and those whose life's depended on commercial fishing Tourism spending decreased from 8%-35% within a year

The Cleanup Estimated by governmental scientists only 14% was removed during the cleanup operations � Required atleast 10, 000 workers, 1, 000 cleanup boats, and about 100 airplanes & helicopters � On The Water: Cleaning Methods � -Burning: reduced tarry residue by burning oil -Dispersants: broke up oil into smaller molecules -Skimming: removed oil from the surfaced � On The Surface: Cleaning Methods -Bioremediation: stimulated the growth to oil eating microbes -Manuel Treatment: required the usage of shovels, rakes, & human hands -Mechanical Treatment: required the use of machines such as tractors to move asphalt from the beach

20 Years Later … � � � � 20 years later oil still continues to infect beaches, national parks, and natural habitats for animals Exxon still owes $92 million Scientists predicted that the oil would decay at a 25% rate. Instead it is decaying away at a 3%-4% rate per year 16, 000 gallons of oil still remain in small portions of the intertidal zone Many species such as the Harbor Seal, the Harlequin Duck, and the Pacific Herring have not fully recovered Significant progress in restoration of the areas that were impacted by the spills have been made Crucial habitats were permanently protected New tools were developed for better management of important resources

Bibliography � http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill � http: //www. eoearth. org/article/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill � http: //arcticcircle. uconn. edu/SEEJ/Alaska/miller 2. htm � http: //www. scientificamerican. com/article. cfm? id=exxon-valdez-20 years-later-oil-spill-prevention � http: //na. oceana. org/en/our-work/stop-ocean-pollution/oilpollution/learn-act/exxon-valdez-oil-spill-facts � http: //library. thinkquest. org/10867/cleanup/methods/index. shtml � http: //www. ens-newswire. com/ens/mar 2009/2009 -03 -24 -01. asp