The Sound Truth
By Riki Ott, Ph.D.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1: Executive Summary

Section 2: Introduction

Section 3: Comparison of Key Studies

Chemistry Studies: Seawater Oil Contamination

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Different Allocation of Study Findings

Different Seawater Sampling Methods

Sampling Effort at Stations & Times Not Reported

Chemical Analyses (Raw Data) Not Reported

No Statistical Analysis Provided

Extreme Pooling of Stations

Temporal Variation of Reported Results Implausible

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Chemistry Studies: Sediment Oil Contamination

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Different Sample Designs

Different Criteria for Identifying Exxon Valdez Oil

Pseudoreplication & Low Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Chemistry Studies: Mussel Tissue Oil-Contamination

Natural Resource Studies: Beach & Nearshore Communities

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Differences in Study Designs

Differences in Definition of Oil Exposure

Choice of Reference Sites

Small Sample Size Relative to Patchiness

Pooling of Species

Pseudoreplication & Low Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Invalid Use of Analysis of Covariance

Selective Reporting of Data & Results

Effects of Cleanup Not Separated

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Natural Resource Studies: Pacific Herring

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Differences in Definition of Oil Exposure

Differences in Timing of Study Initiation

Differences in Year Classes Studied

Pooling of Sites

Selective Reporting of Data

Poor Presentation of Summary Statistics

Misrepresentation of Data

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Misrepresentation of Other Studies

Natural Resource Studies: Pink Salmon

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Egg Mortality in Field

Differences in Study Design

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Egg Mortality in Laboratory

Differences in Study Timing

Differences in Study Design

Pseudoreplication & Low Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Misrepresentation of Study Results

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Pre-emergent Fry Development

Differences in Study Design

Misrepresentation of Study Results

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Emergence Timing

Juvenile Growth

Differences in Study Design

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Adult Escapement

Differences in Study Design

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Natural Resource Studies: Murres, Harlequin Ducks & Other Bird Surveys

Summary Comparison of Studies

Sources of Discrepancy in Study Findings

Differences in Study Design

Different Timing of Study Initiation

Survey Methods

Emphasis on Statistical Uncertainty

Misrepresentation of Study Findings

Multispecies Studies

Carcass Counts

Harlequin Ducks

Section 4: Five-Year Status of Recovery in Prince William Sound

Status of Natural Resources

Status of Human Resources

Social & Psychological Injuries

The Social Fabric: Natural Resource Communities

Rending the Social Fabric: Technological Disasters in Natural Resource Communities

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill & Alaskan Communities

Economic Damages

Native & Landowner Claims

Commercial Fishermen Claims

Criminal Plea Agreement

Civil Settlements for Natural Resource Damages

Cleanup & Response Costs

Physical Health Injuries & Claims

 

Section 5: Rethinking the Future--Implications of Damages

Domestic Oil Lease Sale Programs

Oil-Related Laws & Policies

The Next Spill--Science & Cleanup

Section 6: Summary & Conclusions

Appendix A: Descriptions of Injury to & Recovery of Natural Resources


Table Of Contents | Executive Summary | Introduction | Comparison of Key Studies | Five-Year Status of Recovery in Prince William Sound | Rethinking the Future: Implications of Damages | Summary & Conclusions | Appendices
Exxon's Scientific Manipulation | Home