Lingering Oil Education Project: High School Contest Winners Uncover Lasting Impact of Exxon Valdez Spill

Strategic Insights -

Winners of an essay contest sponsored by the Prince William Sound Science Center's Lingering Oil Education Project traveled around Prince William Sound to learn about the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and its ongoing effects on the environment and local communities. The team, consisting of Marney Mallory, Zeben Kopchak, Emma Roemhildt, and Hannah Bradley, discovered that 15,500 gallons of oil remain on Prince William Sound beaches, affecting intertidal foragers like sea otters and sea ducks. The team's findings were presented to various groups in Washington, D.C., and they aim to educate others about the lasting impact of the spill and the importance of environmental responsibility.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil being released into Prince William Sound, killing an estimated 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 150 bald eagles, and countless other creatures.
  • A total of 15,500 gallons of oil remain on Prince William Sound beaches, affecting intertidal foragers like sea otters and sea ducks (Source: Dr. Jeff Short, Auke Bay Lab scientist, 2001 study).
  • The Lingering Oil Education Project team conducted a field trip to Prince William Sound, where they found remaining oil on the beaches, with some team members describing the oil as "disgusting" and "black, sticky, and stinky."
  • The team visited the SERVS fleet (Ship Escort Response Vessel System) aboard the Valdez Star, a 116-foot skimmer vessel, and commented on the significant improvement in response equipment compared to the 1989 spill.
  • The Lingering Oil Education Project aims to educate others about the lasting impact of the spill and the importance of environmental responsibility, particularly in regards to managing the effects of human errors.

Statistics:

  • 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil were released into Prince William Sound in 1989 (Source: Various reports on the Exxon Valdez oil spill).
  • 15,500 gallons of oil remain on Prince William Sound beaches (Source: Dr. Jeff Short, Auke Bay Lab scientist, 2001 study).
  • The Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in the deaths of approximately 250,000 seabirds (Source: Various reports on the Exxon Valdez oil spill).
  • The Lingering Oil Education Project team presented their findings to various groups in Washington, D.C., including students at Sidwell Friends High School, natural resource staff, and the American Petroleum Institute.

Sources:

  • Press Release written by Contest Winner Hannah Bradley, Prince William Sound Science Center: http://www.gpwssc.gen.ak.us/whatsnew/pressreleasehang.pdf
  • Dr. Jeff Short, Auke Bay Lab scientist, 2001 study (no specific publication date or title mentioned in the source).