Alaska Valdez oil spill

Today marks the 26 anniversary of Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in which almost 11 million gallons of oil spewed into the ocean over the course of three days. Exxon did not execute its pre-approved oil spill reaction plan because their reaction barge had been “out of service and unavailable to be used.” Just because the barge were operational, it lacked adequate skimmers and booms to carry out the spill. Federal government officials and local volunteers quickly began spearheading the cleanup. Despite their utmost efforts to help make up for Exxon’s systematic failure, only 14 percent of the spill ended up being removed. This massive spill caused after that Governor of Alaska, Steve Cowper, to declare a state of emergency. Oil from the spill can certainly still be located today plus some places might since toxic as they were 26 years ago.

Now, more than two decades following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Arctic Ocean continues to be threatened by risky oil drilling. The Bureau of Ocean Energy control (BOEM) released an analysis that showed a 75 % possibility of at least one significant spill if companies were permitted to develop oil when you look at the Chukchi water off Alaska’s northwest coastline. Rapidly forming sea ice, fog, large winds, extreme cool and decreased infrastructure make it very hard to clean up an oil spill in Arctic oceans. In the Gulf of Mexico, just 19 % of the oil from Deepwater Horizon oil disaster was eliminated or dispersed.

Oil businesses have failed showing they are able to drill responsibly in the Arctic. In 2012, Shell’s Arctic drilling rig, the Kulluk, went aground near Kodiak Island coming back from drilling businesses into the Beaufort water. A-coast Guard report found that Shell didn't recognize the risk, used subpar equipment to cope with the environmental surroundings along with inadequate knowledge dealing with Arctic waters. Also, Shell was in a hurry to move Kulluk because they didn’t want to pay state taxes to Alaska for keeping it there after the after year.

A recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) evaluation showed that marine mammals in Arctic would be at the mercy of dangerous quantities of noise caused by exploration drilling. This may interrupt migrations, breathing, medical, breeding, feeding and sheltering.

As of this extremely moment, a barge holding 925 gallons of diesel gasoline happens to be drifting aimlessly in the Arctic after severe climate smashed its tow 5 months ago. Rapidly developing ocean ice has beaten back once again any attempts at securing the vessel. The initial another rescue attempt might be made is July.

Individuals and marine life alike rely on a clean and healthier Arctic. Including careless drilling towards few threats dealing with the Arctic (like loss of water ice, rising temperatures and increased shipping) is only going to make things worse within once pristine environment.