Galveston Bay oil spill threatens wildlife

As Americans commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, a new spill off the coast of Texas on Saturday is threatening Galveston Bay's delicate ecology. 

A ship collided with a barge carrying nearly 1 million gallons of thick, sticky oil, leaking an as yet unknown amount of fuel in the region. Though 27 response vessels with more than 380 personnel are working to scan and recover oil on the third day of cleanup, containment has proved difficult.

Not only have strong winds and choppy water carried the oil as far as 12 miles into the bay, but the oil's weight will cause it to sink and persist for years, creating long-term environmental problems for the area. 

Scott Hickman, who has operated a boat rental business in the Bay for years, told the Texas Tribune, “This is really, really the worst stuff you can dump in the water."