Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Definition
The Exxon Valdez oil spill refers to a catastrophic incident that occurred in 1989 when an oil tanker named Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska, resulting in the release of approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound.