How many animals died in the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

The Exxon Valdez disaster dramatically changed all of that, taking a major toll on wildlife. It killed an estimated 250,000 sea birds, 3,000 otters, 300 seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales.

What happened to the captain of the Valdez?

The National Transportation Safety Board reported Thursday that the captain of the Exxon Valdez was legally drunk when he was tested some 10 hours after his tanker hit a reef last week, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Is there still oil in Prince William Sound?

A small portion of the oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill still lingers in patches beneath Prince William Sound, Alaska, beaches. However, this and other studies suggests the remaining oil is sequestered, or buried, and currently is not posing a risk to the coastal and marine ecosystem.

How much oil did the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska?

An overview of the Exxon Valdez oil spill According to the EPA report: “On March 24, 1989, shortly after midnight, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling more than 11 million gallons of crude oil.

Where is Prince William Sound?

Gulf of Alaska
Prince William Sound, irregular inlet of the Gulf of Alaska, Alaska, U.S. It lies east of the Kenai Peninsula and spans about 90 to 100 miles (145 to 160 km). Hinchinbrook and Montague islands are at its oceanward entrance.

What is the largest oil spill in history?

Deepwater Horizon
On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations.

Who was the Exxon Valdez captain?

Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood
Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood (born September 24, 1946) is an American sailor. He was the captain of Exxon Valdez during her 1989 oil spill.

Where is Captain Joe Hazelwood today?

He was fined $50,000 and this summer will begin performing 1,000 hours of community service, picking up litter along Alaska highways. After his trial Captain Hazelwood became a teacher at a maritime academy. Recently, he’s been working as a consultant for a law firm in New York.

How long ago was the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

On March 24, 1989 the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil. The ecologically sensitive location, season of the year, and large scale of this spill resulted in one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history.

Where is the Exxon Valdez now?

The End Is Near GMS in turn re-sold it to the Chinese-owned Best Oasis, Ltd., for $16 million. Exxon Valdez/Exxon Mediterranean/Sea River Mediterranean/S/R Mediterranean/Mediterranean/Dong Fang Ocean/Oriental Nicety being dismantled in Alang, India, 2012.

Is Prince William Sound a wilderness?

Prince William Sound is an inhabited wilderness. Five modern communities sit at the ocean’s edge around the Sound. The Alutiiq Alaska Native villages of Chenega and Tatitlek, which are located close to the WSA boundaries and whose traditional lands extend throughout the area.

What are the problems with oil spills?

Summary. People who clean up the spill are more at risk. Problems could include skin and eye irritation, neurologic and breathing problems, and stress. Not much is known about the long-term effects of oil spills.

What is the largest oil spill ever?

The Greenpoint oil spill is one of the largest oil spills ever recorded in the United States.

Is there drilling in Alaska?

Oil Drilling in Alaska. Endicott is the first continuous, offshore oil-producing field in the Arctic. The field is in fact two man-made islands that require a ten-mile access road and a five-mile causeway connecting the two islands. The other three fields are Kuparek, Lisburne, and Milne Point.

Where is the oil pipeline in Alaska?

Trans-Alaska Pipeline, in full Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, pipeline that connects the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska, U.S., with the harbour at Valdez, 800 miles (1,300 km) to the south.