short term and long term responses

• scientists on scene worked nearly round the clock for 6 months following the spill
• many parts of the alaskan marine environment have begun to show signs of physical and biological changes, water has warmed, ice has receded and populations of fish and mammals has declined
• beginning in 1989 and ending in 2000, a team of NOA Or&R biologists conducted a long term study to monitor the area affected by the spill
• nowadays, the US coast guard now monitors fully laden tankers via satellite as they pass through valdez narrows and exit Prince William sound
• two escort vessels accompany each tanker while passing through the entire sound
• the escort vessels are capable of assisting the tankers in the event of an emergency
• immediate responses:

  • more than 11,000 residents got involved with the cleanup
• the opportunity was to transport 55 million gallons of crude oil to make money and the challenge was icebergs and oil tankers. the oil spilling out should have outweighed the opportunity and should not have occured