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What Happened?

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?

On August 30, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector San Francisco contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a sunken vessel in the Moss Landing Harbor District. The vessel is reported to be a 25-foot center console and is currently discharging fuel presumed to be diesel, creating a rainbow sheen approximately 50 X 100 yards. The amount of fuel on board and maximum capacity are currently unknown. The incident is within a quarter mile of two sensitive sites listed in the Area Contingency Plan (3-305 and 3-310). An oil spill response organization (OSRO) is enroute to float and remove the vessel. The USCG has requested a trajectory forecast from NOAA.

On August 27, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector New Orleans received notification of a crude oil spill from a TPIC (Texas Petroleum Investment Company) 3-inch flowline associated with the SOB 1A well head in block South Pass 24. A reported 150 barrels of crude oil was released into the marsh and adjacent waterway. Containment and cleanup are underway. An in-situ burn has been proposed. NOAA was requested for onsite and remote support.

On August 25, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Port Arthur contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding an intermittent oil sheen observed at location WCB-657 (Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Bright Bank). The sheen was first reported on August 6, 2026, and has since generated multiple reports to the National Response Center, as well as Marine Pollution Surveillance Reports (MPSRs) from the Satellite Analysis Branch of NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service). The source of the discharge remains unidentified. Given the sensitive location within a National Marine Sanctuary, the USCG is requesting operational guidance and initiating an Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation to ensure response actions minimize potential impacts on protected marine resources.

On August 26, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of approximately 50 dead cormorants along the Zuniga Jetty in San Diego, California. The cause of death is unknown. No sheen or other indication of pollution was observed. The SSC notified the Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Environmental Officer and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife via their online mortality reporting form.

On August 24, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a mystery sheen, and potentially weathered oil, observed in Trading Bay, Cook Inlet, Alaska. The source is unknown, although the oil is in the vicinity of the Platform Spark, a shut-in and abandoned well. The USCG requested assistance preparing a Resources at Risk report. Further requests are likely if the extent of discharge and a source are determined.

On August 24, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Mobile contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a National Response Center report of a mysterious release of gas, causing significant bubbling in Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island, Alabama. The gas has a sulfur-like odor and the release location is near a natural gas pipeline, as indicated in ERMA (Environmental Response Management Application; OR&R's online mapping tool). The SSC is assisting with hazard assessment and identification of potential sources.

In the early hours of August 21, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a fishing vessel floundering off Point Reyes, California. The USCG responded at daylight and found the 58-foot fishing vessel RESOLUTION beached in the tidal zone with a reported 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Operations to lighter and/or remove the vessel are underway. NOAA is providing a trajectory forecast, resources at risk (ICS-232), and a spot weather forecast.

On August 19, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for District Oceania was notified of a vessel (M/V SLNC York) taking on water 700 nautical miles northeast of Saipan. The vessel contained 4,500 gallons of lube oil and 21,000 gallons of marine gas oil. Rescue and towing vessels are en route. The SSC requested satellite/visual imagery from NOAA NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) to assess the pollution impacts of this event. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) indicated possible Oceania Regional Response Team (RRT) activation for dispersant use if fuel is discharged. NOAA is providing any available satellite imagery, will model observed oil anomalies, and provide recommendations as necessary.

On August 19, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector New York contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC), requesting a trajectory for an estimated 3,000-gallon gasoline spill from a truck rollover that occurred around 11am in Lawrence, New York. The fuel spill entered a storm drain that lets out into Hook Creek, a tributary into Jamaica Bay. The USCG requested a trajectory for the incident. The NOAA SSC developed a Resources at Risk report through the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) and spoke with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as well. Around 11am an estimated 3,000 gallons of gasoline (note initial NRC report was 300, not 3,000 gallons) potentially entered a storm drain that

At approximately 4pm local time on August 18, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Detroit contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a fire at an industrial facility in Toledo, Ohio, near the mouth of the Maumee River. The SSC determined that EPA Region 5 is responding to a fire at a different facility upriver that involves a 40,000 gallon kerosene tank. The Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC) has issued a model. The USCG is enroute to the incident. Initial information indicates a 3,000 gallon molten sulfur tank is on fire. The SSC is providing spot forecast and hazard information while awaiting further details.

On August 13, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a diesel spill in the Breakwater Cove Marina in Monterey, California that produced a sheen of approximately 50' x 50'. The location is near Sensitive Site 3-370-A, identified in the Area Contingency Plan. California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) is en route.