Exxonmobil's Ocean Pollution: An Environmental Disaster

ExxonMobil, the world's largest investor-owned oil and gas company, has been responsible for more than 3,000 oil spills and leakages, with the most notorious being the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989. The spill released 11 million gallons of oil into the ocean, causing long-term losses of species and environmental damage. ExxonMobil has also faced criticism for its stance on climate change, its impact on global warming, and its pollution record, including the release of more than 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide and the emission of airborne pollutants and greenhouse gases. The company has been the subject of lawsuits and settlements, such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Clean Air Act, aiming to reduce its environmental impact and address concerns about its contribution to pollution and climate change.

Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska

The Exxon Valdez oil spill, which occurred in Alaska in March 1989, is considered the worst environmental disaster in the state's history. The Exxon Valdez tanker, owned by ExxonMobil, hit Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, perforating its single hull and releasing 10.1 million gallons of crude oil into the water over five hours.

The spill had an immediate and devastating impact on the sensitive coastal ecosystem. It resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of seabirds, thousands of sea otters, hundreds of harbour seals and eagles, and more than 20 orca whales. The destruction of billions of salmon and herring eggs, as well as algae and invertebrate populations, was less visible but equally devastating. The spill also had significant negative effects on tourism, recreational fishing, and commercial fishing in the area.

The cause of the spill was attributed to human errors, including inadequate rest for crew members and a failure to repair broken equipment. While Exxon initially blamed the captain, Joseph Hazelwood, multiple legal judgments found Exxon at fault, resulting in the creation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC) to oversee research on the disaster.

The spill had long-term effects on the environment and industry practices. Studies have shown that some marine animal populations have still not recovered to pre-spill levels, and concerns persist about the impacts of lingering oil on shellfish and other tidal shoreline habitats, which may take up to 30 years to recover. The herring fishery in Prince William Sound, for example, has been closed for more than 20 of the 25 years since the spill. The incident also spurred regulatory changes in the oil industry, including improved spill response technology, modified tanker routes, and increased training and inspection regimes for crews.

In the aftermath of the spill, ExxonMobil conducted 350 peer-reviewed studies of Prince William Sound and concluded that the area had recovered and was healthy and thriving. However, this conclusion has been disputed, with ongoing concerns about the presence of fresh oil and its potential ecological impacts.

ExxonMobil's impact on global warming

ExxonMobil, the world's largest majority investor-owned oil and gas corporation, has been criticised for its impact on global warming. The company has been accused of increasing the speed of climate change and denying global warming.

ExxonMobil has been ranked among the top American corporations emitting airborne pollutants, greenhouse gases, and water pollutants. Its activities in the Baton Rouge area, specifically the pollution caused by them, have led to the area being nicknamed "Cancer Alley". The pollution has been identified as a major cause of the increased number of cancer patients in the region.

ExxonMobil's internal research and early understanding of climate science have been assessed and analysed by scientists from Harvard University and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, among others. These assessments have revealed a disconnect between the company's private understanding of climate science and its public climate denial.

Exxon scientists have been found to have accurately predicted global warming with "shocking skill and accuracy", according to the Harvard researchers. They correctly dismissed the possibility of a coming ice age and predicted that human-caused global warming would be detectable around the year 2000. Despite this early knowledge, ExxonMobil denied, challenged, and obscured the science, engaging in a disinformation campaign about the problem.

The company has faced legal consequences for its actions, with a jury ordering ExxonMobil to pay $5 billion in punitive damages, later reduced by half. Additionally, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was passed in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which resulted in comprehensive marine pollution prevention rules. ExxonMobil continues to invest in lower-emission technologies and claims to be advancing climate solutions, but the effectiveness of these efforts remains uncertain.

ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge pollution

ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge Refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is the sixth-largest oil refinery in the United States and the seventeenth-largest in the world. The Baton Rouge Refinery manufactures about 300 products and grades of products, including motor gasoline, diesel, aviation gasoline, lubricating oils, waxes, petroleum coke, liquefied petroleum gas, and chemical feedstock. The Chemical Plant manufactures products such as isopropyl alcohol, rubber liner for tires, and adhesives.

The Baton Rouge area, where ExxonMobil has operated for more than 115 years, has earned the nickname "Cancer Alley" due to the high levels of pollution and the subsequent increase in cancer patients in the area. ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge complex emitted nearly 4 million pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 2008 to 2011 without government approval. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone or smog, which can cause respiratory issues such as asthma attacks. ExxonMobil's operations in Baton Rouge have also been linked to toxic air pollution, with residents of the nearby Standard Heights neighbourhood reporting plumes of exhaust in various hues.

ExxonMobil has faced criticism for its environmental record, including its impact on global warming and airborne and water pollution. The company is required to report its greenhouse gas emissions to the EPA annually and is subject to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. Despite this, ExxonMobil maintains that its operations do not endanger the surrounding community, stating that it is "safe to live in the Standard Heights community".

ExxonMobil has invested in modernizing its Baton Rouge refinery, with a $230 million project to update the crude unit and expand crude flexibility. The company is also considering a biofuels project at the same site. These initiatives aim to improve the environmental performance of the refinery and reduce its impact on the surrounding area.

ExxonMobil's stance on climate change

ExxonMobil has been accused of being aware of the threat of climate change and the contribution of its fossil fuel business to this issue as early as the 1970s. Internal documents and research conducted by the company reportedly acknowledged the link between fossil fuel burning and global warming. However, instead of taking decisive action, ExxonMobil allegedly engaged in campaigns to sow confusion and doubt about climate change, downplaying the need to reduce the use of oil and gas.

In response to these accusations, ExxonMobil has stated that it is committed to addressing the "very real threat" of climate change while also emphasizing the need to continue producing affordable energy. The company has expressed its intention to reduce emissions and invest in lower-emission initiatives, such as carbon capture and storage. However, critics argue that these efforts are not sufficient and that ExxonMobil's actions do not align with its ambitions.

ExxonMobil's position on climate change has been the subject of legal scrutiny, with the company facing multiple lawsuits and investigations alleging that it misled the public and defrauded shareholders by downplaying the risks and impacts of climate change. Despite these controversies, ExxonMobil maintains its commitment to addressing climate change while balancing it with the need to provide affordable energy to maintain and raise living standards worldwide.

In conclusion, while ExxonMobil acknowledges the existence of climate change, its stance has been characterized by a delicate balance between addressing environmental concerns and protecting its fossil fuel business. The company's efforts towards emissions reduction and its alignment with collaborative ambitions remain the subject of ongoing scrutiny and debate.

ExxonMobil's Clean Air Act settlement

ExxonMobil, the world's largest majority investor-owned oil and gas corporation, has faced significant criticism and controversy over the years, largely due to its activities' impact on climate change and its denial of global warming. Notably, ExxonMobil has been ranked tenth among American corporations emitting airborne pollutants, thirteenth for emitting greenhouse gases, and sixteenth for emitting water pollutants.

One of the most notable incidents involving ExxonMobil and environmental pollution is the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This disaster resulted in the International Maritime Organization introducing comprehensive marine pollution prevention rules (MARPOL) through various conventions. In response to the spill, the United States Congress also passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, prohibiting vessels that have caused oil spills of more than 1 million US gallons from operating in Prince William Sound. The remaining oil from the Exxon Valdez spill has had long-term ecological impacts, causing losses of species such as sea otters, harlequin ducks, and orcas. ExxonMobil, however, denied these concerns, stating that they did not anticipate long-term ecological consequences.

In terms of specific settlements related to the Clean Air Act, ExxonMobil has been involved in several:

• ExxonMobil Refinery Settlement: In 2005, ExxonMobil reached a comprehensive Clean Air Act agreement with the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This settlement covered all of its North American refineries and required the company to spend over $570 million on installing and implementing innovative emission control technologies. ExxonMobil also paid an $8.7 million civil penalty and committed to investing nearly $10 million in environmentally beneficial projects to further reduce emissions.
• Exxon Mobil Corporation/ExxonMobil Oil Corporation Clean Air Act Settlement: This settlement involved the reduction of air pollution from petrochemical and chemical flares, specifically targeting 26 Exxon flares at Olefins Plants and Polymer Plants. The complaint alleged that Exxon violated the Clean Air Act and regulatory requirements, resulting in excess emissions of pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) like benzene. As part of the consent decree, Exxon was required to submit and implement waste gas minimization plans and undertake root cause analyses for "reportable flaring incidents."

These settlements reflect the regulatory actions taken to address ExxonMobil's environmental impact and ensure compliance with air quality standards.

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