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Hazardous Waste Site | Houston, Texas | 1960s - Present

Oil Spill | Richmond, California | 1917 - Present

Hazardous Waste Site | Trainer, Pennsylvania | 1900 - Present

Hazardous Waste Site | Woburn, MA | 1853 to 1969 What Happened?

Between 1853 and 1969, The Industri-Plex Superfund Site was an industrial facility that produced pesticides, munitions, leather goods, and glue. Byproducts of these operations were released on the site contaminating groundwater, soil and sediments. During the 1970s, when the site was being developed for further industrial use, soil excavations uncovered and mixed the wastes and products accumulated for more than 130 years, aggravating the ongoing contamination.

Oil Spill | Corpus Christi, TX | December 2022  What Happened?

On December 24, 2022, a pipeline failure at the Ingleside crude oil terminal Dock #5 in Corpus Christi Bay (“Bay”) occurred. The terminal and pipeline are owned by Flint Hills Resources (“Responsible Party”). The pipeline failure released approximately 14,000 gallons of light crude oil into Corpus Christi Bay. The responsible party worked with local, state, and federal agencies to establish a command post in Corpus Christi, Texas from December 30, 2022, through January 5, 2023.

Ship Grounding | Mona Island, Puerto Rico | August 2023 What Happened?

  Oil Spill | Sitka, Alaska | March 2022
  What Happened?

Hazardous Waste Site | Washington, DC | Late 1800s to present What Happened?

Oil Spill | Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana | October 2017 What Happened?

Hazardous Waste Site | Wilmington, DE | 1935-2017 What Happened?

On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Strike Team contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding response support after Typhoon Sinkalu impacted the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. The USCG sought input on how to properly identify and respond to possible pollution targets. No products were requested from NOAA at this time.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a sunken 40-foot sailboat in the Montego Village Marina in San Diego Bay. The vessel contains a reported 40 gallons of diesel. Minimal sheening has been observed. USCG has assumed jurisdiction over the response and will raise the vessel and remove any fuel on board. At the request of USCG, the NOAA SSC has informed Endangered Species Act (ESA) trustee agencies.

On April 16, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that they are investigating a mystery sheen reported at the Port of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska. The source is suspected to be from a jet fuel discharge (<200 gallons) that occurred on December 25, 2025. The sheen is coming from ice on piers at the fuel dock at the port. Sheen and a fuel odor has been reported up to one mile away, particularly during falling tides. Cook Inlet Beluga whales (listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act) and migratory birds have been observed in the vicinity of the sheen occurrence area.

On April 8, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Maryland contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) to request a trajectory analysis for the partially sunken tugboat Gale in Curtis Bay, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland. The tug struck a submerged object at approximately 6 am, April 8. Not known yet is the damage to the hull or the screw that led to the flooding. The vessel is boomed off and currently reporting no sheen or discharge. They report between 6,000 to 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel remaining between four fuel tanks, and that they have a total fuel capacity of 12,800 gallons. Follow-up investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland determined that the partial sinking of the tugboat Gale was due to the barge striking a previously unknown sunken barge.

On April 3, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for California was contacted by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach regarding a compromised container of sodium hydroxide. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed on scene and established a 1000-foot safety zone around the container. Hazardous materials handlers were dispatched to assist in opening the container, assessing additional risks or hazards, and beginning off-loading the container. The container doors were opened without incident. The Incident Command demobilized April 3 and the remainder of the cleanup was managed by the facility.

On March 27, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for Oceania was notified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Honolulu of a sheen observed via satellite. No products were requested from NOAA; this was for notification only. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was also notified of the satellite observation and investigated using aircraft. The sheening was determined to be caused by a dead, decaying whale off the coast, which the USCG was able to visually verify.

On March 27, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco called the 24/7 NOAA spill emergency line to report that a small motor boat had washed ashore near the mouth of the Salinas River on March 26 after a Search & Rescue effort. Today the vessel was submerged by the high tide. California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) reported little to no remaining fuel on board. No support needed from NOAA; notification only.

The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast District was contacted regarding an oil spill of unknown origin affecting coastlines of Mexico. Reports from the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaría de la Marina; SEMAR) shared that oil had been observed on the shores of Tabasco on March 2, 2026. Oil was later discovered extending to the cities of Coatzacoalcos, Tampico, and then to Tuxpan. NOAA has been asked by the government of Mexico and the USCG Heartland District to assist with satellite imagery, assessments, and risk analysis. The spill location is estimated at this time.

On March 25, 2026, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO) contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a reported 7 barrel discharge of low-sulfur crude oil (LSC) from a 4-inch flowline located at the Terrebone Bay - Lake Barre facility operated by Hilcorp. The NOAA SSC contacted the Federal On Scene Coordinator Representative (FOSCR) Marine Safety Unit Houma, which is sending personnel to investigate. The State and U.S. Coast Guard are concerned about potential impact to areas where a current oyster closure is in place. A trajectory was requested from NOAA.

On March 23, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Port Arthur contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for Texas regarding an explosion that occurred that evening at the Valero Oil Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. The USCG requested a plume model, which the SSC coordinated through the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC). On the morning of March 24, the local emergency operations center and facilities representatives reported that the fire had been extinguished and the source secured and compartmentalized. MSU Port Arthur deployed responders in the vicinity of the facility to check the waterway and reported no observed petroleum products, chemicals, or fire foam. There have been no requests for updated modeling at this time.