Exxon Still Refuses to Pay Bills on Damage it Caused 20 years ago

The Exxon Valdez spilled some 34,000 tonnes of crude oil in the costliest accident of its kind. The clean up alone cost around $2.5 billion.

The two sides still disagree about whether Exxon owes interest on the $507 million award, which would bring the final figure to $1 billion, according to plaintiff's lawyers. There is also debate over another $70 million, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

David Oesting of Anchorage, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, and Exxon were not immediately available for comment.

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the subject, the justices sent the case back to the lower court to handle the final settlement of the $507.5 million award, which the Court said was the maximum damages available to the plaintiffs.