Research Paper on:
Lasting Damage of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
more subsurface oil that is still fresh and toxic after 12 years." This is a statement from Molly McCammon, who is the executive director of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill  Trustee Council (Pemberton, 2001). On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground at Bligh Reef in the Gulf of Alaska off the shores of Prince William Sound, spilling 11  million gallons of oil. It was the worst oil spill in recorded history and it affected over 1300 miles of Alaskan coastline (Luoma, 1999). The devastation was horrific and  as people around the world watched the scenes on their televisions, many felt overwhelming sadness. Birds, fish, fowl, plants, small critters, all covered with oil, dead, dying, with rescue workers  trying to keep them alive. Cleanup began immediately. Thousands of people, professionals and amateurs worked tirelessly to clean up the oil and to save the creatures and wildlife. Many  believed that time would heal nature. Exxon insisted and continues to assert that within two years, all would be well and now they assert that all was well by two  years after the spill. The ecology of the sound and the coast would be back to normal (Luoma, 1999). The fact is that if you travel over the area by  plane and look down, it does seem as though ecological balance has been achieved, that time has healed the wounds to the ecology of this incredibly beautiful place (Luoma, 1999).  You would be mistaken, however. Looks, in this case, are massively deceiving. Walk along the shore and the damage is still clearly seen, oil residue is still there visible  as well as buried in the sands along the coastline (Luoma, 1999). Scientists are still there monitoring and tracking the long-term damage that was caused by that oil spill (Luoma,