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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Oil_spill
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-01
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Leakage of oil from an ocean-going tanker, a
pipeline, or other source. Oil spills are
frequent and may cause enormous ecological
harm. In Mar 1989 the Exxon Valdez went
aground, covering in oil 1,850 sq km/4,800 sq
mi in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and
killing 34,434 sea birds, 9,994 otters, and
at least nine whales. The spill left pools of
oil up to 100 cm/3 ft deep on some beaches.
In Dec 1989 an Iranian tanker leaked 70,000
tonnes (19 million gallons) off the coast of
Morocco. In Jan 1990 a broken Exxon pipeline
leaked 567,000 gallons into New York harbour;
in June 1990 another 260,000 gallons was
spilled in New York harbour and a tanker
carrying 38 million gallons caught fire and
leaked oil in the Gulf of Mexico, posing a
serious threat to local shrimp nurseries and
wildlife refuges. In Feb 1990 300,000 gallons
leaked from a damaged tanker off Southern
California, fouling miles of shoreline.