Valdez salvage crews successfully refloated the stricken tanker Valdez Exxon after nearly 1M barrels of oil were pumped to smaller tankers and air was forced into the Exxon 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 Valdez. James Hazelwood, captain of the Exxon, who had been found to be legally drunk and was fired by Valdez, 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.