Seems like such a small amount of money for loss of animal life. Exxon always seems to get away with careless destruction of wildlife.

In Peru, where I spent three miserable years of my life, sea birds die simply from being in the ocean. When I walked the beach during the winter months ((July thru September in South America), I would see dead sea birds about every 50 feet right there on the sand. There was a "Water Treatment Plant" in southern Lima, about a mile north of this beach, I went to check it out. Well, there was no such plant, just raw sewage draining straight into the ocean right there on the beach – in a well hidden area, of course, so most people would not know it's there. Thing is, I reported it to a TV station, who aired the situation on their primetime news, and not one word of outrage, or even concern.

At least we, in this country, have laws to protect the environment – to some degree. It's shameful to see the pollution, and the lack of respect for the planet by the Peruvian people. I spent 3 years there, and was sickened by the people's blatant disrespect – not only for the environment, but for each other. For the record, I'm anything but a tree hugger or a peacenik, I just hate blatant disregard for life, the environment, and the world in general.

$600,000. That's it?? Should have been moAr!!!!!!

Very good! It's about time. Maybe we've got a future after all. We need more of "corporate" America to take more such stands for our environment and clean up their messes. They are in a position to do so and should. Protecting our wildlife and our environment are very important if we are even to have a future.

Donna Wood
Lexington, Tennessee

Any way the Government can get money, but may I ask this – the tobacco industry and smokers themselves pollute the environment every day (people don't even consider the small lungs their pets have when they poison them with their second hand smoke) and yet that is ok? Is that because Obama smokes, that he is the anti-Bush that he targets oil and not a true source of constant pollution to fine?

Birds must have good lawyers. I'm all for defending wildlife endangered by corporate irresponsibility.

If they were safe in the beginning, 85 birds would still be alive. Its like if the birds survive the shaft, then there is no leak, but if they die you know something bad is down there. Well the price of gas should be going up .Clean up Tax deduction well help recover, I'm sure. F--d us again EXXON.

Glad to see that Exxon has to pay a penalty for this and ill have to clean up the mess that kills these birds and take precautions that it doesn't happen again. We need more environmental responsiblity like this to stave off the decline in numbers of much of our wildlife.

If they were safe in the beginning, 85 Bird's would still be alive. Its like if the Bird's survive the shaft, then there is no leak, but if they die, you know somethingbad is down there.Well the price of gas should be going up and then their "clean up " tax deduction should take them over their loss. Well EXXON has slugged us again .

Wow, I can't believe that a price can even be put on the deaths of the protected birds. Exxon should've been more protective form the beginning, the death of 85 birds shouldn't hvae made them realize that dumping all that junk into the ponds was bad. People can be so careless, it's kind of obvious that we are not the only living things that live in this earth but animals also belong to this earth. I just hope that they actually commit to what they are going to do so that another tragedy like this does not happen again.

If that incident is in the Philippines... The goverment will just say... "Ha? it's just a bird! "