It was difficult for clean-up officials to fully document the damage to the St. Lawrence River ecosystem . An attempt was made to determine the mortality of wildlife . A count of animal mortality included 226 waterfowl and ducks and 508 birds , mammals and amphibians . Several hundred waterfowl , ducks , other birds , and countless fish were harmed or killed by the spill . Chemical shoreline cleaners were used , much like what was used during the Exxon Valdez oil spill . Neighbors worked hand-in-hand with government employees , students and national volunteers for months . Clean-up of the oil was accomplished primarily by intensive hand labor , through power-washing shorelines and hand cutting and hauling contaminated underwater and marsh vegetation . The clean-up was terminated on October 22 , 1976 ; 122 days after the spill . However , many areas with oil contamination were not cleaned-up and the oil was left to degrade naturally . The United States alleged it spent $ 8,062,981 to clean its territorial waters and reimbursed Canada , pursuant to an executive agreement for their $ 768,265 spent
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Exxon Valdez oil spill
NEPCO 140 oil spill