Exxon Valdez: 25 years later

It’s been 25 years since the Exxon Valdez spilled millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Alaska. Even now, traces of oil linger on Alaska’s shores and likely will for decades to come. Newer disasters, like Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, raise questions about the economic and environmental impacts of spills on communities and the country. So, what’s the legacy of the Exxon Valdez and how has it shaped how we deal with oil spills? 

On this episode of The Stream, we'll speak to: 

Patty Schwalenberg
Executive Director, Chugach Regional Resources Commission- CHOOGASH
linkedin.com/pub/patty-brown-schwalenberg

Steve Rothchild
Administrative Deputy Director, Anchorage, Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council
pwsrcac.org/about/staff

Tyson Slocum @tysonslocum
Director, Public Citizen Energy Program 
citizen.org

Jayeesha Dutta @gulffuture
Gulf Future Coalition Coordinator
gulffuture.org

Keith Guindon
Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance Commercial Fisherman
shareholdersalliance.us

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. 

Twenty-five years ago, 89% of oil spills came from tankers and barges - and the Exxon Valdez spill fit that mold. Today, regulation has brought that number down to 14%, but the BP Deepwater Horizon leak highlighted the fact that progress on new methods of oil extraction far outpaces efforts to prevent or respond to potential disasters.

Below, the two spills in global context: