Historic Exxon Valdez oil spill sites in Alaska deemed safe

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Thirty-seven years after the Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil, state environmental officials are proposing to remove 11 spill sites from the list of polluted waters. The lingering oil is now too degraded, deeply embedded, and immobile to pose any further water quality problems, according to an analysis performed for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Why it matters

The Exxon Valdez oil spill was one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, causing extensive damage to the local ecosystem and economy. The fact that many of the affected sites have now been deemed safe is a significant milestone in the long recovery process, though some areas still contain lingering oil.

The details

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing to reclassify 11 spill-affected sites from 'impaired' to meeting water quality standards. These include famous locations like Sleepy Bay, Bay of Isles, and Herring Bay that were heavily coated in oil after the 1989 spill. While some sites still have lingering oil, it is now too degraded and immobile to pose ongoing problems. In total, the state has consolidated the number of sites with lingering oil from 36 to 16, with 5 sites still considered impaired.

• The Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground on March 24, 1989, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil.
• The state's draft 2026 impaired water body list is currently open for public review, with comments accepted through April 6.

What’s next

The state's draft 2026 impaired water body list is subject to public review, with comments accepted through April 6. After comments are analyzed, a final list will be produced and sent to the Environmental Protection Agency.