NATION IN BRIEF : ALASKA : Federal Prosecution of Exxon Is Urged

Alaska has asked the Justice Department to prosecute Exxon Corp. for federal crimes and to seek full damage payments, in addition to fines, without letting the company plea bargain to avoid culpability in the Alaska oil spill, according to court documents. In testimony before a state Superior Court pretrial hearing in Anchorage for fired Exxon Valdez Capt. Joseph Hazelwood, Larry Weeks, Alaska’s chief prosecutor, said that the state wants a federal court order requiring Exxon to pay full restitution for the worst spill in U.S. history. Weeks said that Exxon should be held accountable legally and financially for the spill of 11 million gallons of crude oil.