The Spill

In March 1989 the Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound and spilled more than 11 million gallons of heavy crude oil. Response efforts did not arrive onsite until 14 hours after the spill, and it took another 21 hours to place booms around the oil. This resulted in devastation to fish and wildlife populations and habitats, and negative impacts on the commercial fishing industry. More than 30 years after EVOS, towns and villages around PWS are still experiencing the effects of one of the worst man-made disasters in history.  

State and Federal Action

Following the EVOS, the Alyeska Consent Decree was passed, which mandated the construction of three oil response facilities around the PWS: 1) Chenega, 2) Tatitlek, and 3) Cordova. Of the three facilities, Cordova is the last to be built, and the most critical. Selection of these three locations was based on Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Geographic Response Strategies to ensure that a spill in any zone of the PWS could have response efforts initiate efficiently and effectively.  

In 1990, Congress approved the Oil Pollution Act (OPA90), which focused on strengthening the US Coast Guard’s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic maritime oil spills. Not long after, Alaska passed state law 46.04.030(k)(3)(B), which requires that adequate equipment be pre-positioned and available to control, contain, and cleanup a 300,000 barrel spill in 72 hours.

Why Shepard Point

A recent study of oceanic and meteorological conditions in the area around Cordova, Alaska was conducted by a sub-contractor of the NVE to look at tides and water levels, relative sea level (RSL) trends, currents, winds, waves, and tsunamis. Results from this study suggest that Shepard Point is the optimal location for a response facility in the region, and will be used to help in the design of the in-water facilities.