It is 12:45 A.M. on March 24. 1989. You have just been alerted that the Exxon Valdez tanker has run aground on the Bligh Reef and is spilling oil at an enormous rate. By the time you arrive at the spill, 6 million gallons of oil have been lost and the oil slick extends over an area of more than 1 square mile.
A meeting wiih the emergency response team is called. At the meeting, someone suggests that a second tanker be dispatched to remove the remaining oil from the Exxon Valdez. Unfortunately, the number of damaged compartments from which oil is leaking is not known at this lime and there is concern that if the tanker slips off the reef, it could capsize if the oil is removed from only the compartments on the damaged side.
Someone else suggests using chemical dispersants (i.e., soap-like substances), which would break up the oil into drops and cause it to sink. However, it is not known if sufficient chemical is available to cover a spill of this magnitude. A marine biologist at the meeting also objects to the use of dispersants, slating that once these chemicals are in the water, they would be taken up by the fish and thus be extremely detrimental to the fishing industry.
The use of floatable booms to surround and contain the oil also inspires a heated discussion. Because of the size of the spill, there is not enough boom material even to begin to surround the slick. The Alaskan governor's office says the available material should be used to surround the shore of a small village on a nearby island. The Coast Guard argues that the slick is not moving in that direction, insisting that the boom material should be used to contain or channel the slick movement in the fjord. The Department of Wildlife says the first priority is the four fisheries, which must be protected by the boom or else the fishing industry will be depressed for years-or perhaps even generations-to come. A related issue is that millions of fish were scheduled to be released from the fisheries into the oil-contaminated fjord two weeks from now. Other suggestions as to where to place the boom material were also put forth at the meeting.
Cany out a K.T. situation appraisal for the Exxon Valdez spill.