ExxonMobil arrangements with contract scientists

ExxonMobil has contracted independent scientists with impeccable credentials who are among the world's leading experts in their fields. They have studied in-depth all pertinent aspects related to the effect of the Valdez oil spill on the Sound's plants, water, shoreline and wildlife. These scientists have each individually concluded that the environment in PWS is healthy, robust and thriving. While ExxonMobil reviews these papers from a scientific and legal perspective, we do not prevent any of our contract scientists from openly and completely discussing and/or publishing their findings. In addition, ExxonMobil has never attempted to persuade one of these contract scientists to change or alter the conclusions of their studies. To date these scientists have published 211 peer-reviewed papers relating to all aspects of the PWS environment.

Contrary to what the Oil Spill Trustees have said publicly, ExxonMobil has from the very outset taken the position that the scientific data produced by scientists studying the environment in PWS should be made public as soon as studies are complete.

As early as 1989, ExxonMobil proposed that all the scientists working for both the government and ExxonMobil meet together to share the enormous amounts of valuable data being generated by the scientific studies sponsored by both ExxonMobil and the government. Our proposal was rejected by the government. We understand that the rejection was the result of a recommendation from the government's legal counsel.  ExxonMobil continued its studies and in 1991 began publishing these studies as peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.

The Trustees unfortunately have not always followed this same policy of volunteering the supporting data when publishing their studies. Some agencies require Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests before they will release any data.  ExxonMobil's FOIA requests for supporting data would not be necessary if all the Trustee scientists had volunteered their data.

A prime example is the study done by Auke Bay scientists regarding the sources of background hydrocarbons in PWS. The ability to completely analyze their data and verify their conclusions has always required FOIA requests, and to date, the Auke Bay scientists have not made available to the public the data upon which their conclusions are founded.  Thus it is not possible for independent investigators and the ExxonMobil contract scientists studying the same issues to examine the data.

ExxonMobil continues to believe that the public interest would be better served by sharing data from scientific studies, and we will continue to advocate this policy as we have in the past.

More information about scientific studies in Prince William Sound is available from: