Oil Spill | Prince William Sound, Alaska | March 1989

What Happened?

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.

Exxon settled in 1991 with funds disbursed in three discrete parts: criminal plea agreement ($25 million), criminal restitution ($100 million), and civil settlement ($900 million).

What Were the Impacts?

The spill affected more than 1,300 miles of shoreline, with immense impacts for fish and wildlife and their habitats, as well as for local industries and communities.

The oil killed:

• An estimated 250,000 seabirds
• 2,800 sea otters
• 300 harbor seals
• 250 bald eagles
• As many as 22 killer whales
• Billions of salmon and herring eggs

More than 25 years since the spill, the following species remain in a “Not Recovering” or “Unknown” status:

• Killer whales (family group known as pod AT1)
• Kittlitz’s murrelets
• Marbled murrelets
• Pigeon guillemots

What’s Happening Now?

Settlement funds have been used to fund multiple restoration and protection projects throughout Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska, and for habitats outside of the state that are important for migratory species. More than 600,000 acres of land have been protected using settlement funds and matching funds from numerous restoration, research, and monitoring programs.

Current restoration activities are focused on:

• Long-term herring research and monitoring
• Long-term monitoring of marine conditions and injured resources
• Shorter-term harbor protection and restoration projects
• Lingering oil
• Habitat protection

Long-term monitoring of marine conditions and restoration effectiveness is ongoing.

Ultimately, the Exxon Valdez spill resulted in a close examination of the status of oil spill prevention, response, and cleanup in the United States. One result was the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which led to the establishment of NOAA’s DARRP program.

Learn more about the Exxon Valdez spill assessment and restoration activities.