PWSRCAC calls for EVOS agreement

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council has called on the U.S., Alaska, Exxon and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustees Council to agree on implementation of the 2006 restoration plan under the Exxon Valdez oil spill reopener for unknown injury.

The council passed a resolution Sept. 18 “Supporting Habitat Restoration Pursuant to Damages Caused by the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.” The Exxon Valdez Settlement Agreement contains a reopener clause allowing the state or federal government to request additional monies from Exxon “due to unanticipated remaining oil in the environment and subsequent failure of species to recover within Prince William Sound,” the resolution states.

The provision in the settlement, entitled “Reopener for Unknown Injury,” would require Exxon to make additional payments for specific restoration projects if specific conditions are met, the council said.

The state and federal governments presented Exxon Mobil Corp. with a comprehensive plan pursuant to the reopener clause in June 2006 which provided for cleanup of lingering oil at an estimated cost of $92 million.

ExxonMobil has maintained that EVOS cleanup has been completed while environmental groups have argued that oil from the spill has been degrading at slower rates than expected. An environmental group following the issue has said that under the settlement claims under the reopener expire in June 2016.

The council cited recently published research for which it was one of the sponsors which found that even low levels of Alaska North Slope crude oil impacted embryonic salmon and herring producing heart damage and resulting in reduced swimming ability and reduced survival.

- Petroleum News