April 3, 1989 - the largest oil spill(溢出)in U.S. history has brought drastic(严厉的)ramifications
(后果)for wildlife, fishing industries, the State of Alaska and the Exxon Oil Corporation. When the oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, hit a reef in Prince William Sound, 10 million gallons of oil spilled over 1,600 square miles of water and fouled(弄脏)800 miles of shoreline, in one of the world's richest wildlife areas. Though much of the news focused on the report that the tanker's skipper(船长), Joseph Hazelwood was allegedly drunk while on duty, the disaster raised serious political issues of corporate(具体的)regulation(规章制度) and responsibility, and strengthened the case for greater environmental protection against mankind's continuing exploitation(开发)of nature.