In March of 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in Prince William Sound releasing millions of gallons of oil. Considered one of the worst oil spills in the world, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) affected 1,300 miles of shoreline throughout Prince William Sound and other parts of southwest Alaska. WEST’s first project included designing a study to evaluate the impact of wildlife and natural resources resulting from the EVOS. The project gave WEST experience in working on Natural Resource Damage Assessments and on the design of a sampling plan for a very large study area. Most importantly, this project gave Lyman and Dale the courage to start a consulting company, resulting in the founding of WEST. #WEST30Years