Exxon salvage ##rs successfully refloated the stricken tanker the Valdez after nearly 1 M barrels of oil were pumped to smaller tankers and oil was forced into the Valdez tanks . Clean - up from the spill continued as the oil slick was expected to affect an area the size of Delaware . lieutenant Governor Cowper said the coast guard could better handle the clean - up than Exxon . James Hazelwood , owner of the Valdez , who had been found to be legally drunk and was fired by Exxon , surrendered to police in a Long Island suburb of New York City . Released on $ 500,000 bail he may not waive extradition to Alaska .
Exxon salvage crews successfully refloated the stricken tanker Exxon Valdez after nearly 1M barrels of oil were pumped to smaller tankers and air was forced into the Valdez tanks. Clean-up from the spill continued as the oil slick was estimated to affect an area the size of Delaware. Alaska Governor Cowper said the coast Guard could better handle the clean-up than Exxon. James Hazelwood, captain of the Valdez, who had been found to be legally drunk and was fired by Exxon, surrendered to police in a Long Island suburb of New York City. Released on $500,000 bail he may not waive extradition to Alaska.