The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal government and tanker owners on March 6 by striking down parts of Washington state regulations aimed at preventing oil spills that damage the environment. The court agreed unanimously with the position taken by the U.S. Justice Department and the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, stating that four key parts of the tanker regulations were preempted by federal law. The regulations governing ocean-going tankers were adopted after the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident, and were designed to impose stricter safety requirements on tankers than would be necessary under federal law. The rules drew protests from a number of foreign nations.
