UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN BILL PASCRELL
CONGRESSMAN FOR NEW JERSEY
Speech Delivered March 10th, 1999
Washington, D.C.
- Time Magazine has called the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill "one of
the worst environmental disasters of the century."
- Ten years ago, a drunken captain ran an oil tanker aground in one
of the most sensitive ecosystems in this country. As a result, over
11 million gallons of oil fouled Prince William Sound, killing
innumerable animals and threatening the livelihood of thousands of
Alaskans.
- An Alaskan jury properly found Exxon liable for the damage done
to the Prince William Sound and its residents. The result was the
largest punitive damages award in this nation's history, $5.3
billion.
- Exxon had its day in court ... and lost. Unfortunately, Exxon has
refused to honor its legal obligations and its obligation to the
people whose lives have been dramatically altered as a result of
this environmental catastrophe.
- Now, Exxon is about to be a party to a merger with Mobil. This
is not about anti-trust laws, but about right and wrong.
- Exxon stands to reap the financial benefit of this merger.
However, before it is allowed to, it must keep its promise to the
state of Alaska and the people of the Prince William Sound.
- Our government must carefully review this merger. Otherwise, it
might send polluters the wrong message.
- I have always been a strong supporter of "Polluter Pays"
legislation. We must make sure that this polluter pays before it is
allowed to reap the financial windfall that a merger would entail.
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