Exxon Valdez Oil Persists, 18 Years Later

New Study Shows Massive Oil Spill Off Alaska's Coast Has Resisted Weathering

(AP) 
Short and the other researchers looked at subsurface oil from 10 randomly selected beaches in the spill area. Data from the study was collected in 2005 and compared with samples taken from the same beaches for a 2001 study.

Earlier research from other spills showed that oil could hold toxins for years if embedded in oxygen-depleted sediments where minimal weather-caused disintegration occurs, according to the new report. In the Valdez spill study, researchers found that thick, emulsified oil — called "oil mousse" — resists weathering and thus can be preserved in oxygen-containing sediments.

"Our results show it's not changing much," Short said. "What's left is going to be there a long time."

Exxon estimates it has paid $3 billion in cleanup costs, government settlements, fines and compensation. But it still has not paid an unresolved punitive damage judgment, originally set for $5 billion by a federal jury in 1994.

The case has since bounced between the federal court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In December, the appeals court ruled that the oil giant must pay $2.5 billion to compensate thousands of fishermen and others affected by the spill.

Earlier this month, Exxon asked the court to reconsider its decision.

John Devens, executive director of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council, said Exxon's prolonged stalling were unconscionable considering the social, economic and environmental damages.

"It's very difficult to understand why Exxon isn't a better industrial citizen," Devens said.

[thefarmer77]

wow ... you guys are blaming Bush for something that happened 18 years ago....

[oleander8]

"Profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 declined to $10.25 billion from $10.71 billion Exxon earned in the 2005 quarter %u2014 a record quarterly profit for any U.S. public company."

One would think they should stop fighting in the courts and get in there and clean this up. Why are they getting away with this????

[bluestardad]

the administrations justice department has cut the damage settlement in half!

[mswolfestock]

Exxon is not a "better industrial citizen" because there are none. The federal government needs to seize Exxon's huge profits and clean up the mess. They should also make sure that the richest, most bloated CEO's and share holders of Exxon's stock take part in the clean-up effort. Now THAT's corporate responsibility. All huge corporations will continue to get away with fouling the planet until some government insists on holding them responsible. (Not likely until 2008, though.)