Exxon Pays Fine but Denies Valdez Leaked Off San Diego
Exxon Shipping Co. has paid a $1,000 civil penalty to settle a complaint filed by the U.S. Coast Guard after the damaged tanker Valdez leaked oil into San Diego Bay and off the coast last summer, Exxon officials confirmed Friday.
But in a January letter that accompanied the $1,000 check, Exxon denied that the company is liable in any way for the 10-mile oil slick and smaller sheens that appeared off the waters around San Diego as the tanker was awaiting approval to enter a local shipyard for repairs.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Scott Porter said, however, that the Coast Guard is satisfied that Exxon violated federal law when it left about eight barrels--or 320 gallons--of Alaskan north slope crude residue in the water.
The Valdez was towed to San Diego from Alaska, where it was the source of the largest oil spill in the nation’s history.
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