Conclusion
Natural resources will always be extracted from the earth. The Exxon Valdez oil spill is a reminder of how vulnerable the environment is. The destruction was devastating but heightened public support for stringent controls and consequences for corporations. Images of dead otters, oil-soaked birds, and blackened beaches captured the public’s attention and pressured the government for better regulation. Many international maritime organizations adopted the OPA’s provisions. There has been some recovery in Prince William Sound, but its memory remains, like the oil that lurks beneath the surface.
