A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected Exxon Mobil Corp.'s request to reconsider its earlier decision that cut nearly in half a $4.5 billion jury award punishing the company for the 1989 Valdez oil spill that fouled 1,500 miles of Alaskan coastline. In December, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the punitive damage award to $2.5 billion in a case that began with a 1994 decision by an Anchorage jury siding with 34,000 fishermen and other Alaskans. The plaintiffs said they were hurt when Exxon's oil tanker struck a charted reef and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil.

An Exxon spokesman said the Irving-based company, which still sees the award as excessive, would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.