Foreword: The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the largest and most destructive in United States history. In the wake of this disaster, the Army Corps of Engineers joined the team headed by the United States Coast Guard to mount a massive cleanup effort. This was the first time the Corps and the Coast Guard had worked together on such a grand scale, and the results were dramatic.
The record clearly indicated that Corps personnel, in concert with other federal, state, and local agencies, made significant contributions in all phases of the operation. Of particular note were achievements in the area of dredging, contracting procedures, and application of state-of-the-art remote sensing technology.
Dr. Janet A. McDonnell’s account of events both during and after the March 24, 1989, spill provides valuable insight into the myriad complex problems that must be considered and overcome when confronting a disaster of this magnitude. The Exxon Valdez incident and other subsequent spills clearly indicate the need for better planning and improved cooperation among all agencies involved. By documenting these “lessons learned” from the Exxon Valdez experience, we now are able to learn from the past and to prepare ourselves for better response in the future.
