Emotional Exxon Valdez Hearing Held

Published Apr 13, 2006 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Well over 15 years after the Exxon Valdez tanker grounding in Prince William Sound, oil residues remain in the water and on the minds of Alaskans affected by the landmark event. Years later, local residents remain resentful, and a series of state hearings on the continued effects of the 11-million-gallon spill have done nothing but fuel the emotions of Alaska's taxpayers.

For their part, Exxon Mobil maintains that the company has paid the compensation it owes, and that Prince William Sound has been shown to be healthy, robust, and thriving. Testimony given last Saturday by fishermen, Native leaders, conservationists and academics, however, supported potential government efforts to seek additional damages of up to $100 million for unexpected effects of the spill.

At least two more hearings are scheduled, during which state officials will decide whether to file a claim for additional damages from the operator of the "EXXON VALDEZ." Potential uses for additional funds, according to those who testified, ran the gamut from research and restoration efforts to additional assistance to those who claim that their way of life has been destroyed. Alaska Attorney General David Marquez, who is conducting the hearings, said he was struck by the emotion of the hearings.

The 1991 civil settlement stipulated that Exxon pay $900 million over a 10-year period, ended in 2001. An obscure provision also allowed a window from 2002 to 2006, during which both the state and federal governments could claim up to an additional $100 million. That is separate from an unresolved punitive damage judgment of $4.5 billion that the company has not paid.

Assessments of damages and lingering affects of the spill estimate that as much as six miles of the sound's shoreline is still affected by the spill, and that as much as 100 tons of Exxon Valdez oil remains in the sound. An undetermined amount may linger beyond the sound. The reopener provision expires Sept. 1, and the state and federal governments must file a claim 90 days before that date.