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Alaska marks 10th anniversary of Exxon Valdez oil spill A diverse group of stakeholders are working together to make sure it doesn’t happen again; concerns continue, but training, equipment, systems in place today that weren’t there in 1989 Kevin Hartwell PNA Contributing Writer
In Alaska’s history there are a handful of historic dates that define who and what we are today. The purchase of Alaska from Russia, the Klondike Gold Rush, the 1964 earthquake and Alaska statehood would top almost everyone’s list. Ten years ago, another was added: March 24, 1989, the day the 987-foot oil tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound.
March marks the 10th anniversary of the event that gained Alaska worldwide recognition for what became the largest and most destructive oil spill in U.S. history. “The vast majority of people probably didn’t think that there would be a problem with oil tankers going through here,” said Mark Somerville of the Main Bay Sockeye Hatchery, who has lived and worked in Prince William Sound since long before the spill. “Nobody thinks that anymore.” The cost of oil Following the accident, nearly 11 million gallons of oil spread west across Prince William Sound, into the Gulf of Alaska to Kodiak Island and beyond, oiling more than a thousand miles of sensitive beaches. Less than 15 percent of the oil was ever recovered.
An estimated 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals and up to 22 killer whales were killed in the wake of the spill. It impacted the people of the Sound as well. Lucrative salmon and herring fisheries were closed, and 10 years later commercial fishermen and Native subsistence users of these resources are still feeling lingering effects.
“In the Sound there’s been a (decrease) of pink salmon wild stocks,” said Gerry McCune, president of Cordova District Fishermen United. “With the herring, we’re missing the total class of four-year olds. We didn’t see a lot of the effects until long after (the spill).” Spill-proofing the Sound Today, most of the visible signs of the oil are gone, although it still persists in some areas protected from wave and storm erosion. But one big question looms over Prince William Sound: Will it happen again?
One thing the oil spill did was end complacency. “If I look at 1989 and today, I say what isn’t different?” said Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. President Bob Malone. “(The differences are) in the training of our people, the equipment that’s available to us, the systems that we and the government regulators use, like the U.S. Coast Guard, and the training of our fishing vessel fleet.”
Another change is that the oil industry has a new group looking over its shoulder, a citizens’ group made up of several diverse stakeholders in the region, including fishermen, Native communities and environmental groups. Mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council has played a key role in representing the public’s interest in preventing another spill.
Prince William Sound RCAC President Stan Stephens, who operates a tour business in Prince William Sound, was hit hard by the oil spill. “I think (RCAC) has made a big difference. Citizens’ groups are the wave of the future. Because of the way the system works, we put into government many checks and balances to make sure the citizen is represented. But through all the heavy lobbying, and ability for businesses and others to influence, it is almost necessary to add another check and balance.” Prevention is the key If another spill should happen, the response certainly will be better than it was in 1989. Trained response crews, including the local fishing fleet, practice in regular drills. Millions of dollars worth of equipment is now in place at strategic locations in Prince William Sound.
But, everyone agrees, once oil gets in the water, it is very difficult to clean up. Therefore a great deal of focus is being placed on prevention. The two biggest changes are the Coast Guard’s vessel traffic system and Alyeska’s ship escort/response vessel system.
At the time of the oil spill, the responsibility for staying on course rested solely with the tanker crew. In the case of the Exxon Valdez, no one was aware that the tanker had veered far off course until Capt. Hazelwood radioed the Coast Guard that they had grounded on Bligh Reef. Today, the Coast Guard vessel traffic system utilizes a vessel transponder that reduces the potential for human errors.
“It gives us their speed, the course they are taking,” explained Coast Guard Capt. Ron Morris. “And that info is relayed to us without any active role by the vessel except that the transponder must be turned on.”
Today, laden tankers are escorted by tugs clear out of Hinchinbrook Entrance, with the Coast Guard monitoring the entire transit. Last month, the first of a new breed of high-powered escort tugs was christened. “The Nanuq is the most powerful tractor tug in the world, and it brings the highest standard of tanker escort safety to Prince William Sound,” said Gov. Tony Knowles during the Feb. 3 christening ceremony. These new 10,000-horsepower tugs are designed to steer a disabled vessel from harms way, and are powerful enough to tow a laden tanker in rough seas. In addition, the rescue tug Gulf Service is now positioned at Hinchinbrook Entrance in case a tanker loses power and must be steered clear of dangers like Seal Rocks just outside the entrance. Danger in aging tankers and pipeline The chances of another oil spill in Prince William Sound have been reduced, although many people are still concerned about remaining risks, including Cordova’s Riki Ott who worked tirelessly even before the spill to safeguard Alaska’s environment from disasters like the Exxon Valdez.
“I believe that we are really in danger of another oil spill,” said Ott. “It could come from the marine leg or from the 800-mile pipeline. The people of this country should realize that we need double-hulled tankers and this is not an inevitability. People need to watch the oil industry and make sure there is follow-through on some of these laws that were passed in the enthusiasm of the spill.” Common ground One piece of common ground can be found among the diverse stakeholders in the region as this important anniversary in Alaska history is observed: “We don’t ever want it to happen again,” said Alyeska’s president, Bob Malone. “We’re going to invest and put the effort into the prevention side so we don’t see it happen again. There are no absolutes, we know that. But if we keep our focus on the prevention side, use the latest technology and do the training that’s needed, hopefully we won’t see it happen again.”
About the author: Kevin Hartwell is a documentary film producer who has spent the past two years researching and filming in Prince William Sound on the subject of long-term effects of the oil spill. Hartwell was the only producer given access to nearly every scientific research project in the spill region by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. One half-hour educational program has been completed and will premiere on Alaska Public Television in March. He is currently completing a full hour-long retrospective documentary for national broadcast.
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