Alaska Governor Steve Cowper authorized the creation of the Alaska Oil Spill Commission in 1989 to examine the causes of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and issue recommendations on potential policy changes . Cowper appointed Walter B. Parker , a longtime transportation consultant and public official , as the chairman of the commission . Under Parker , the Commission issued 52 recommendations for improvements to industry , state , and federal regulations . 50 of these recommendations were worked into the Oil Pollution Act bill that was introduced into legislation on March 16 , 1989 by Walter B. Jones , Sr. , a Democratic Party congressman from North Carolina 's 1st congressional district
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Oil Pollution Act of 1990