American Notes ALASKA

In the 18 months since the Exxon Valdez spewed 11 million gal. of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, controversy has dogged the cleanup efforts. The debate continued last week, as Exxon ended a second summer of mopping up and declared the cleanup over unless its survey next spring proves a need for more. The tab so far: $2 billion plus. Alaskan officials were not quite so upbeat. Insisting that "substantial oil remains," outgoing Governor Steve Cowper said, "We can't take a walk and let Mother Nature finish up."

The state asserts that some four miles of coastline remain heavily oiled (1,100 miles were initially affected). Exxon counters that water-quality reports have been positive and that the sound yielded record catches of pink salmon (43.4 million) and herring (8,300 tons) this year.

The Coast Guard, which has been the federal watchdog on the cleanup, has largely agreed with Exxon. The state says it will continue its own cleanup efforts and press for Exxon to return to the task. By spring, however, winter storms may have completed the job, according to experts.