 The construction and operation of the pipeline and terminal boosted the economy of Valdez.The first tanker to be loaded with pipeline oil was the "ARCO Juneau" in early August 1977, bound for the Cherry Point Refinery in 

The 1989 "Exxon Valdez" oil spill occurred as the oil tanker "Exxon Valdez" was leaving the terminal at Valdez full of oil.The spill occurred at Bligh Reef, about from Valdez.