Success Story: EPC

Organization: Eyak Preservation Council

ACF Support in FY2006: $10,000

Project: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Re-opener

On June 1st, the State of Alaska and the United States moved to reopen the 1991 natural resource damages settlement for the Exxon Valdez oil spill by filing a $92 million restoration plan with ExxonMobil Corporation under the “Reopener for Unknown Injury” section of the 1991 settlement. 

“This success would simply not have been possible if it weren’t for the support of ACF,” stated Jennifer Gibbons, Executive Director of the Eyak Preservation Council (EPC).  “This decision by the state and federal government is a critically important acknowledgment of the spill and its impacts on the environment of Prince William Sound.”  

Last December, when it seemed that neither the state nor the federal governments were moving to reopen the settlement, ACF awarded a $10,000 Rapid Response Fund (RRF) grant to EPC to coordinate the grassroots effort to pressure the governments to reopen the settlement. 

 “Reopening the settlement recognizes the long-term impacts of the worst oil spill in American history,” said Cordova fisherman Ross Mullins. “It demonstrates that oil is more toxic and persistent than anyone knew in 1991. With these funds, the governments can continue restoring Alaska’s environment.”

The Exxon Valdez oil spill dumped more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, killing untold numbers of fish and wildlife, contaminating over 1500 miles of coastline, and destroying local economies dependant on fisheries to make their living.  Since 1991, scientists have confirmed the continued exposure of various wildlife species to lingering oil from the Exxon Valdez.  Studies by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration suggest that 100 to 200 tons of oil lingers in the spill zone, and studies coordinated by the joint state-federal Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council indicate that 23 of the 30 resources and services injured by the spill have not recovered. 

“We thank the governments for having the foresight to insist on the reopener clause and we stand behind them in demanding that Exxon clean up its lingering oil,” said Mayor Tim Joyce of Cordova.

Through resolutions of the Alaska Legislature, local and tribal governments, and various organizations, Alaskans voiced overwhelming support for reopening the 1991 settlement to restore injured fish, marine mammals, seabirds, invertebrates, and other resources. The governments’ plan seeks to restore only some of these natural resources, leading advocates of a more comprehensive plan to note that more needs to be done.

“Understanding and addressing the long-term impact of lingering oil is an important step in the restoration process,” said Pat Lavin, of the National Wildlife Federation and a member of the Public Advisory Committee to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, “but this plan leaves much to be done. We look forward to working with the governments to restore Pacific herring and the other resources injured by the Exxon Valdez oil spill that are not included in this plan.”

ACF’s Rapid Response Fund (RRF) is critical to defeating serious attacks on Alaska’s natural treasures.  An expedited process allows RRF grants to be awarded in three days or less. Because normal foundation grantmaking processes can take several months to respond, the RRF is the only meaningful source of Alaska environmental protection grants that are able to finance critical projects almost immediately.

-story by Matt Rafferty