On Monday, the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce 11-member board of directors passed a resolution unanimously expressing outrage at Exxon’s stalling tactics in resolving the Exxon Valdez oil spill and recommended a 19th anniversary commemoration.

“It has been nearly 19 years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill during which the world’s wealthiest multinational conglomerate has been permitted to avoid full accountability for their indefensible lapses in judgement that led to the disgorging of 11 million gallons of crude oil into the nutrient-rich waters of Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska, and the waters surrounding the Kodiak Archipelago,” the resolution reads.

On Feb. 27, lawyers for Exxon Mobil and the plaintiffs of the Exxon Valdez oil spill will argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Each side will have 45 minutes to help the panel of judges decide history and a $2.5 billion punitive damage settlement.

Executive director Debora King said the chamber wants those in Washington preparing to argue the case with the U.S. Supreme Court to know that the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce and the community support them in their efforts.

“We want speedy resolution,” King said.

The resolution also stated the need for something to mark the 19th anniversary. The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred March 24, 1989.

According to the resolution, “The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce encourages and supports actions to commemorate and remember the 19th anniversary of this disaster so the public will never forget how irresponsible actions by a company can have such long-term and serious negative consequences for so many innocent victims, their lives, their livelihoods, their business and the economy on which they depend.

A copy of the resolution was directed to be sent to the Exxon Mobile Corp., key leadership of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Gov. Sarah Palin and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Mirror writer Ralph Gibbs can be reach by e-mail at rgibbs@kodiakdailymirror.com.