Oil spills in the United States

Oil spills in the United States
Name	Major oil spills in the United States
Caption	Exxon Valdez oil spill aftermath, Prince William Sound
Date	Various
Location	United States
Cause	Pipeline failures, tanker groundings, drilling blowouts, rail accidents
Fatalities	Variable
Reported damage	Environmental and economic

Oil spills in the United States Oil spills in the United States have occurred across coastal waters, inland rivers, and terrestrial sites, affecting ecosystems, commerce, and communities. Notable events such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Exxon Valdez oil spill shaped environmental law and energy policy debates, while responses have involved agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Coast Guard, and industry actors such as British Petroleum and ExxonMobil. Scientific studies by institutions including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Geological Survey have documented long-term impacts on species like the California sea otter and habitats such as the Gulf of Mexico marshes.

Overview

Oil spills in the United States encompass incidents from offshore drilling platforms like Transocean projects to coastal terminals serving companies such as Chevron Corporation and Marathon Petroleum. Inland events have implicated operators including Enbridge and rail carriers like BNSF Railway following accidents involving unit trains carrying crude derived from Bakken Formation production. Responses mobilize federal authorities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and legal mechanisms under statutes including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Clean Water Act. Research institutions such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution contribute scientific assessments, while advocacy groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club influence policy.

Major Incidents

High-profile spills include the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which involved Transocean-operated drilling and British Petroleum as the principal lessee. Other significant cases are the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill that influenced the modern environmental movement and the 2000 MV Jessica incident affecting the Galápagos Islands' supply chain via Ecuador—notable for international repercussions. Pipeline failures such as the 2010 Enbridge Line 6B oil spill into the Kalamazoo River and the 1991 T/V Mega Borg tanker crisis have prompted litigation involving firms like Shell plc and ConocoPhillips. Train derailments carrying crude, typified by incidents near Lac-Mégantic (cross-border relevance) and derailments impacting Montana or North Dakota, illustrate the role of Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian National Railway in transport-related risks.

Causes and Risk Factors

Primary causes include well blowouts tied to operators like Halliburton and Schlumberger during drilling operations, tanker groundings involving shipping firms registered in flags of convenience, and pipeline corrosion or third-party excavation affecting networks operated by Kinder Morgan and Plains All American Pipeline. Weather events such as Hurricane Katrina interact with risk by damaging facilities owned by Shell plc and BP. Human error, exemplified in investigations of Transocean and vessel operators, combines with aging infrastructure on rights-of-way managed by Enbridge and maintenance practices scrutinized under regulations enforced by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Production surges from regions like the Williston Basin increase rail shipments and associated accident exposure for carriers like BNSF Railway.

Environmental and Economic Impacts

Ecological consequences documented by NOAA and USGS include mortality and population declines in species such as the brown pelican, Common loon, and commercially important stocks like Gulf shrimp and Atlantic menhaden. Habitat degradation affects wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta and coral reef systems researched by the Smithsonian Institution. Economic impacts encompass losses to fisheries represented by unions such as the National Fishermen's Association, port operations at facilities like Port of New Orleans, and tourism economies in states such as Florida and Louisiana. Long-term studies by universities including University of California, Santa Cruz and Louisiana State University have shown persistent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues affecting food webs and property markets in coastal counties like Plaquemines Parish.

Response, Cleanup, and Liability

Cleanup operations coordinate federal entities such as the United States Coast Guard and contractors like Marine Spill Response Corporation under frameworks established by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and enforcement via the Department of Justice. Liability has been litigated in cases against corporations including British Petroleum and ExxonMobil, resulting in settlements overseen by courts such as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the United States Supreme Court in precedent-setting appeals. Techniques used include mechanical recovery, chemical dispersants procured from firms like FMC Corporation, and bioremediation projects studied at laboratories like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Natural resource damage assessments engage trustees such as the National Marine Fisheries Service and state agencies including the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Regulation and Policy

Policy responses after major incidents led to passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and amendments to the Clean Water Act affecting permit regimes administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and oversight by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. International maritime standards promoted by the International Maritime Organization and agreements like the Jones Act influence vessel operations and coastal response capacity. Regulatory bodies such as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and safety directives issued by the National Transportation Safety Board address pipeline and rail transport risks. Litigation and legislative activity by members of United States Congress committees, including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, continue to shape funding for spill prevention and response.

Prevention, Technology, and Lessons Learned

Advances in blowout preventer design tested after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill involve manufacturers like NOV and research at institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Satellite surveillance by agencies like NOAA and sensor networks developed at Argonne National Laboratory improve detection of releases from pipelines operated by Kinder Morgan. Best practices codified by industry groups such as the American Petroleum Institute emphasize integrity management and emergency preparedness, while academic programs at Texas A&M University and University of Houston train responders. Lessons learned underscore the roles of corporate compliance, statutory tools like the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and cross-agency coordination exemplified by joint exercises between the United States Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Category:Environmental disasters in the United States