Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan

"In 1994, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council adopted the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary recovery and rehabilitation program....The Trustee Council adopted a Restoration Plan for the civil settlement funds after an extensive public process. More than 2,000 people participated in the meetings or sent in written comments.

Reimbursements: $216.4 million
As part of the settlement agreement, $173.2 million went to reimburse the federal and state governments for costs incurred conducting spill response, damage assessment, and litigation. Another $39.9 million went to reimburse Exxon for cleanup work that took place after the civil settlement was reached.

The remaining funds were dedicated to implementation of the Restoration Plan, which consists of four parts:

Research, Monitoring, & General Restoration: $178.0 million
Surveys and other monitoring of fish and wildlife in the spill region provide basic information to determine population trends, productivity, and health. Research increases our knowledge about the biological needs of individual species and how each contributes to the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem. Research also provides new information and better tools for effective management of fish and wildlife populations.

General Restoration includes projects to protect archaeological resources, improve subsistence resources, enhance salmon streams, reduce marine pollution, and restore damaged habitats.

Habitat Protection: $374.8 million
Protection of habitat helps prevent additional injury to species due to intrusive development or loss of habitat. The Trustee Council accomplishes this by providing funds to government agencies to acquire title or conservation easements on land important for its restoration value.

Restoration Reserve: $145.1 million
This savings account was established in recognition that full recovery from the oil spill would not occur for decades. The investment fund supports long-term restoration activities after the final payment from Exxon was received.

Public Information, Science Management & Administration: $42.3 million
This component of the budget includes management of the annual work plan and habitat programs, scientific oversight of research, monitoring and restoration projects, agency coordination, and overall administrative costs. It also includes the cost of public meetings, newsletters, and other means of disseminating information to the public such as this website."

For more information, see the website of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.