Chronology of the Exxon Valdez incident : on March 24 , the tanker runs aground . March 30 , the captain is fired ; April 4 , spill called the oil industry 's " three mile island ; " June 19 , oil companies announce plan for $ 250 million network of response teams ; September 1 , beach cleanup operations suspended for winter ; October 27 , Exxon resigned from National Wildlife Federations advisory board . Amid a circus of reporters and TV cameras, a Suffolk County judge accused Hazelwood of complicity in an environmental disaster comparable to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. December 4 , Interior Secretary announces that cleanup cost Exxon $ 1.9 billion ; December 31 , Wildlife officials report 1,000 sea otters , 140 bald eagles and 36,500 seabirds dead ; February 27 , Exxon and subsidiary indicted ; and March 22 , captain found guilty of negligent discharge of fuel . Exxon was ordered to resume the beach cleanup on May 1 .
Chronology of the Exxon Valdez incident : on March 24 , the tanker runs aground . March 30 , the captain is fired ; April 4 , spill called the oil industry 's " three mile island ; " June 19 , oil companies announce plan for $ 250 million network of response teams ; September 1 , beach cleanup operations suspended for winter ; October 27 , Exxon resigned from National Wildlife Federations advisory board . December 4 , Interior Secretary announces that cleanup cost Exxon $ 1.9 billion ; December 31 , Wildlife officials report 1,000 sea otters , 140 bald eagles and 36,500 seabirds dead ; February 27 , Exxon and subsidiary indicted ; and March 22 , captain found guilty of negligent discharge of fuel . Exxon was ordered to resume the beach cleanup on May 1 .