This 02 April, 1989, file photo shows a cleanup wo

NAKED ISLAND, UNITED STATES: ExxonMobil was ordered in court to pay 4.5 billion USD in punitive damages and 2.25 billion USD in interest for the Exxon Valdez oil spill, David Oesting, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said 28 January, 2004. The money would go to 32,000 fishermen, natives, landowners, small businessmen and municipalities in south central Alaska who were affected by the spill, but ExxonMobil is expected to appeal the ruling, Oesting said. AFP PHOTO/CHRIS WILKINS/FILES (Photo credit should read )