Beginning after the first of the year, in 2013 monies that were to be paid out to claimants of the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill will begin going to the state of their last address according to the Exxon Qualified Settlement Fund.

The fund says that there is a list of just shy of 950 names of people that for various reasons the fund was unable to locate. The payments have been on hold for reasons that include:

• Bad Address
• Unverified Social Security numbers or Tax Payer Identification Number
• Estate Documents needed
• Never completed/invalid W-9 on file
• Unsigned Certification page

Many names on the list are listed as estates as well. Heirs of these individuals are entitled to those funds.

There is close to $1 million yet to be disbursed.

The list is not just populated with Alaskans, many of the individuals that filed claims had addresses from many places in the lower 48.

Even though these funds will be turned over to the Unclaimed Property Administration of the claimant’s listed state, those funds can still be pursued from those states, although many times the process can be long as many states do not actively pursue people with funds coming to them.

The list of people still missing and entitled to funds can be seen in this alphabetical list or this list that has claimants grouped by state and city.

If you know someone that is on the list, you are urged to contact that person or the Exxon Qualified Settlement Fund at 1-800-EXSPILL (1-800-397-7455)

The Exxon Qualified Settlement Fund can also be reached by E-mail at: exspill@kellerrohrback.com.