Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

On March 23rd 1989, the Exxon Valdez left from Alaska with the intention to carry 53 million gallons of crude oil. The captain, Joseph Hazlewood was under the influence of alcohol, and allowed an unlicensed friend steer the ship. The boat hit Bligh Reef, which was understood to be a navigation hazard in the Prince William Sound. The impact caused 11 million gallons of crude oil to spill in the water, spreading over 1,300 miles. Hundreds of thousands of animals died, and thousands more were affected by the spill. Even after cleanup, oil was still present and affected the lives of these animals. This oil spill was also responsible for the decline of salmon and herring fish. Fishing is what kept small shoreline towns, striving, and after this incident they suffered economically. In 1990 Congress Passed the Oil Pollution Act which was put in place to prevent incidents like this. In order for shipping companies to travel with large amounts of oil, they must prevent a detailed containment and cleanup plan in case of an emergency.