03.23.09
Murkowski Marks 20th Anniversary of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill:
“Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It is a day that Alaskans will never forget. We know of the damage to the ecosystem as a result of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. But the spill also impacted thousands of Alaskans who live in coastal areas affected by the spill. Twenty years later, subsistence gathering has not resumed in many areas and commercial fisheries remain disrupted. As we mark this tragic milestone, let us remember and acknowledge those Alaskans whose lives and culture were forever changed by this catastrophic event.
“While we have made significant progress in spill prevention and response, we must guard against becoming complacent. We must remain ever vigilant to insure that we are doing everything possible to prevent this from happening again. While we can predict what the environmental impacts might be from a spill, we must never forget that the impacts on people and their lives are not so easily measured.”
