Here is a chronology of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, its cleanup and related developments:
Chronology highlights of Exxon Valdez oil spill: March 24, 1989: Exxon Valdez tankers runs aground on reef south of Valdez, Alaska spilling nearly 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound; September 15, 1989: Exxon suspends its beach cleanup for winter. Alaska officials disagree it was a job well done; November 8, 1989: US House of Representatives passes bill preserving states' ability to adopt stricter oil spill liability laws than federal government; February 27, 1990: A federal grand jury indicts Exxon on five criminal accounts; March 22, 1990: Jury finds Valdez skipper guilty of negligent discharge of oil but innocent of more serious charges.