The Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 spilled approximately 10.9 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska after the ship ran aground. Over 1,100 miles of coastline were impacted, making it the largest oil spill in U.S. waters at the time. Cleanup efforts continued for years. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, releasing up to 5,000 barrels of oil per day. Experts estimated this Gulf spill could surpass the spillage of the Exxon Valdez four times over in just a few weeks if not contained. Multiple containment options were attempted but proved difficult given the depth and scale of the leak. The Gulf spill had