The Sad History of Global Environmental Disasters

As news from the massive environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico continues to worsen, one thing is certain: the underwater oil spill – now 1 month in duration – will result in litigation for years to come.

But the BP crude leak – which could be the largest oil spill in history – is simply the latest in a long list of disasters with heavy human, financial and environmental costs:

• Three Mile Island, 1979 – a partial core meltdown led to the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history.   The containment building at this Pennsylvania site remains unsafe to enter to this day.  Total clean-up cost: $975 million and 14 years.

• Bhopal Pesticide Plant, 1984 - this Union Carbide plant in India released toxins into the air, resulting in 8000 deaths.  Thousands more ultimately died from gas-related diseases.  The site has never been cleaned up – toxins continue to leach into the water table.  Total cost of compensation:  $470 million.

• Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 1986 – the worst nuclear accident on record, the explosion rendered the Ukrainian city as Europe’s largest ghost town.  Resulting in the deaths of 8000 and the removal of 200,000 more, millions continue to live on ground that remains contaminated.  Total cost of resettlement and environmental remediation: $200 billion.

• Piper Alpha Oil/Gas Rig, 1988 – an explosion followed by fire destroyed this North Sea rig.  The death toll was 167.  Rescue efforts were hindered by massive fires ironically fuelled by oil being pumped from 2 nearby rigs.  Total cost of rig: $3.4 billion.

• Exxon Valdez, 1989 – 10 million gallons of oil were spilled in Prince William Sound, Alaska when the Valdez ran aground.  Clean-up efforts were hampered by the remote location.  Accepted estimates suggest 20,000 gallons remain in the area to this day.  Total clean-up cost: $10 billion, plus other costs.

• Prestige tanker, 2002 – this tanker began leaking oil in the Atlantic, but was refused port by France, Spain and Portugal.  Within 6 days, the vessel broke in half and sank, releasing 20 million gallons into the ocean. Total clean-up cost estimate: $12 billion.

• Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal, 2005 – 20 large storage tanks at this oil depot sustained fire damage, burning for the better part of two days in London, England and injuring 43.  Total clean-up cost: $1.1 billion.

Source: http://finance.sympatico.ca/galleries/costly_disasters

Tags: environment, Liability, oil