Incident News

On 18-JUN-2024, USCG Sector Western AK/US Arctic was responding to a vessel fire aboard the F/V MISS COURTNEY KIM, along the Southwest coast of Popof Island, roughly 6 miles SE of Sand Point Harbor, AK with reportedly 1,800 gallons of diesel on board. At the time, no NOAA support was requested because no pollution was observed. On the evening of 20-JUN-2024, Sector WAKUSA contacted NOAA SSC to request trajectory support due to an overflight observation at 1600 hrs local of ½ mile X 30 yard “light silver sheen”.

On 18 June 2024 a 6-inch TPIC flowline located in the Delta Farms Oil Field released approximately 40 bbl of crude oil into the marsh. The release is secured. Containment boom is in place to prevent impact to the adjacent waterway. An in-situ burn is under consideration.

On June 18, 2024, the USCG Sector Delaware Bay notified the NOAA SSC of a 2,000-gallon release of alkyl ether sulfate from the Stepan Chemical Co facility in Fieldsboro, NJ. An unknown amount was released into a ditch that drains to the Delaware River.

On 16 June 2024, USCG notified NOAA of multiple oil sheens off Cape Flattery, WA. Approximately 5 sheens were observed over 5 nautical miles. SSC NW returned the call and obtained overflight pictures from USCG helo.

On June 11, 2024, the USCG notified the NW SSSC that a plane crash had occurred in southern Washington. Possible discharge of remaining 5-10 gallons of fuel oil into the environment. The fuel type is unknown as this type of aircraft could be constructed with either a radial (avgas) or turboprop engine (kerosene). USCG requesting boom guidance due to a sensitive marsh area. USCG, DOE, and NTSB are on site investigating.

Mid-afternoon on 09-JUN-2024, USCG Sector San Diego contacted their NOAA SSC to report two sheens observed just east of San Clemente Island by a USCG aircraft earlier in the day. One sheen was described as 1,000 feet x 1-1.5 miles, the other was described as roughly 4.5 miles long. No black oil was reported, but at least some rainbow sheen was observed. USCG will have a helicopter in the area tomorrow morning (10-JUN-2024) on a training flight and requested a possible search area.

On June 1, 2024, the USCG Sector New York notified the NOAA SSC of a heavy fuel oil spill that occurred at Stapleton Anchorage, Staten Island, New York. The cause was equipment failure during a fuel transfer operation between the MV Crane, a bulk carrier, and a Vane Brothers Barge. Approximately 1,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil spilled into the Lower Bay of New York Harbor. The Sector requested a RAR and trajectory.

On May 30, 2024, at approximately 2200 local, an estimated 100 gallons of hydraulic fluid was discharged from a dump scale being towed by a barge approximately 3 miles offshore Freeport, TX (NRC#1400428). MSU Texas City contacted NOAA SSC to inquire if a sheen or slick was visible on satellite imagery.

On May 29, 2024, a tank battery in Orangefield, TX, was struck by lightning, damaging the tank. An estimated 40 bbl of crude oil was discharged into Cow Bayou. OSRO is on site, boom placed. EPA is overseeing. State jurisdiction is TRRC (land) and TGLO (water). The NOAA SSC was notified by TPWD on May 30.

On May 29, 2024, the USCG MSU Duluth contacted the SSC regarding a red dye diesel fuel spill near the Silver Bay Marina of Silver Bay, MN. The spill is reportedly a result of an overflow during an internal fuel transfer on an articulated tug and barge at approximately 0300 that morning. USCG is requesting a fate analysis.

On 29 May 2024, the USCG Sector Delaware Bay notified the NOAA SSC of an oil spill at the Delaware City Refinery, Delaware City, Delaware. An estimated 1,000 gallons of crude oil was spilled into an adjacent wetland that flows into the Delaware River. The cause was a failed pipe valve gasket. OSRO's are on-scene skimmer vessels addressing heavy sheen. Sorbent boom has been placed along the edge of the oiled shoreline.

On May 25, 2024, the USCG Sector Jacksonville reported the 80-foot yacht, the Atlantis, was sinking off St. Augustine, FL. All persons onboard were rescued. The USCG requested oil fate and potential for shoreline impact for the 1000 gallons of diesel fuel onboard. The water depth at the location is approximately 48 feet.

On 19-May-2024, USCG Sector Columbia River contacted the NOAA NW SSC about mystery tarballs and oiled birds on the Northern Oregon and Southern Washington coastline. USCG received reports of 6 oiled birds on Cannon Beach and Manzanita Beach in Oregon, one bird had to be euthanized. There were also reports of tarballs on Seaview Beach in Washington. USCG helo overflights on 19-MAY, did not see any oil. USCG is requested satellite imagery from NOAA for the past 72 hours and is requested an oil sample analysis on one of the tarballs.

On May 18, 2024, the USCG notified the NOAA Scientific Coordinator that a TPIC (Texas Petroleum Investment Company) well in Lake Pelto was releasing natural gas and condensate into the air. The release is thought to be the result of a strike from a shrimping vessel. The release has not yet been secured. USCG is maintaining a safety perimeter of one-half mile. Condensate is impacting the waterway. NOAA was requested to provide fate/trajectory and additional support.

On May 15, 2024, the USCG contacted the ERD Duty Officer to request support on a tug and barge accident. The tug and barge hit the Pelican Island bridge in Galveston, TX, spilling vacuum gas oil. Other details are pending. Trajectory was requested.

On May 14, 2024, the USCG notified the NOAA SSC of a 91-foot vessel that sank in the Ballard Ship Canal. Name of vessel is F/V North American. Potential 30K gallons of diesel release (26,000 gallons reported aboard). Additional 4000 gal of waste oil, 800 gal of lube oil, and 600 gallons of hydraulic oil. Time of sinking unknown. Vessel is currently boomed. USCG and WA Dept of Ecology on site. USCG requested NOAA oil trajectory. The state SOSC requested IC-232/Resources at Risk.

On May 11, 2024, an unknown amount of waste oil from tank washings was discharged into Tucker's Bayou, a sub-estuary of Buffalo Bayou (aka Upper Houston Ship Channel) NRC#1398647. Oil-water mixture discharged from a drainage culvert into a heavily vegetated area in the upper end of the Tucker Bayou drainage. Sector Houston-Galveston notified NOAA SSC, and requested assistance with identifying potential listed species on-site and recommendations for clean-up methods.

On May 10, 2024, the NOAA SSC notified that a 46-foot fishing vessel caught fire and sank near Sandy Point, Washington near Lummi Bay. Local Fire, USCG and Washington Dept of Ecology on scene responding to incident. Sheen observed and believed to be diesel and/or motor oil. Max capacity of the boat was 400 gallons, with 300 gallons believed to be aboard. WA ECY is conducting IC-232/RAR for this incident.

The Alaska State OSC contacted the SSC by phone and email to the Alaska RRT co-chairs and members for DOC (NOAA) and DOI regarding a request from a responsible party to use a Subpart J bioremediation agent (Micro-Blaze) on diesel-contaminated soils along the Nenana River shoreline from a truck accident last November that released up to 120 gallons of diesel fuel. Due to winter conditions, the diesel was minimally recovered. The contaminated soil exceeds the State's cleanup levels but is too close to bridge abutments to allow for a complete excavation of the contamination.

On April 20, 2024, Energy Transfer reported a pinhole leak from a 30-inch pipeline in the West Cameron lease block. The discharge is reported as condensate from a natural gas line. The line is reported to be in the process of being shut in. On April 24, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO) requested NOAA SSC for a trajectory to evaluate if any surface oil was likely to reach Louisiana State waters.