U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Response Activities Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Abstract

ABSTRACT In nonfederalized oil spill responses (in which the spillers assume responsibility), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for advising the Regional Response Team and the federal on-scene coordinator on the protection of fish and wildlife resources, overseeing the rehabilitation of wildlife resources, and assessing the extent of environmental damage. The Exxon Valdez spill, in March 1989, required a major effort by the service, due to the amount of oil spilled, the large area affected, the environmental sensitivity of the area and its wildlife, and the spill's impacts on National Wildlife Refuge lands. The service's response began within 24 hours of the spill, and continued until fall 1990. Wildlife surveys were conducted by aircraft and boat throughout the spring and summer of 1989, and in the summer of 1990. Live oiled birds and sea otters were rescued and, when possible, rehabilitated and relocated; dead ones were collected for study, and to protect scavengers from ingesting oil. Service personnel also monitored shoreline cleanup efforts in bald eagle nesting sites. Further response work is anticipated in the 1991 season. The Service is updating its National and Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plans to take account of the lessons learned in this major response.