Government or official record

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

NOAA Office of Response and Restoration

Where this source supports the record

Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.

Engineering failures · 24 March 1989
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Bligh Reef grounding site and Prince William Sound spill area · United States

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Why editors use it here
Federal overview of grounding, spill volume, response, shoreline impact, and restoration.
1. Quick read
  Just after midnight on 24 March 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and spilled about 11 million gallons of crude oil.
  Reviewed 26 July 2026
2. Trigger and conditions
  The tanker left its traffic lane to avoid ice.
  Reviewed 26 July 2026
3. Uncertainty
  The official estimate is 10.8–11 million gallons, based on tank calculations rather than direct measurement.
  Reviewed 26 July 2026
4. Why it matters
  Exxon Valdez shows that prevention and first-hour readiness matter more than spectacular cleanup once oil enters complex coastlines.
  Reviewed 26 July 2026