Representative Eric Croft Senator Hollis French |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · February 2, 2006 |
Legislators encourage state to pursue $100 million restoration funds from Exxon
JUNEAU - Today, Rep. Eric Croft (D-Anchorage) and Sen. Hollis French (D-Anchorage) introduced resolutions in the House and Senate to encourage the state and federal governments to pursue a claim under the "re-opener" clause of the 1991 civil settlement with Exxon.
The settlement provided over $1 billion for research and restoration, with an additional $100 million made available for unforeseen or unexpected damages. The deadline for claiming these funds is Sept. 1. HJR 29 and SJR 17 also requests the Attorney General report to the legislature on the status of the governments' claim.
"The unforeseen and continuing damages to our coastal communities are well documented," Croft said, "but Exxon won't pay unless we ask them. The people of Alaska shouldn't suffer just because the Governor fails to act."
"The clock is ticking," Croft said. "Many thousands of Alaskans are still waiting for their share of the Exxon oil spill damages; this money can at least help the process of restoring the environments they depend upon for their livelihoods."
"ExxonMobil owes this to the people of Alaska, and given their record-setting profits over the past year - during the fourth quarter of 2005 they made over $100 million each day - they have the ability to do so," French said.
Since the 1991 civil settlement, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustees Council, universities, governments and private organizations have funded studies proving that oil from the spill remains in the area and continues to affect the land, native species, and local peoples.
The Trustees council has identified 30 resources or populations as injured by the spill. To this day, only seven are classified as "Recovered." The eight classified as "Not Recovering" include loons, ducks, harbor seals and pacific herring. In addition, five have been classified as "Recovery Unknown," including cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.
The sponsors look forward to educating the public and their colleagues on this important and timely issue.
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