Incident News

On May 5, 2022, The Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinators Office (LOSCO) notifed the NOAA SSC about a discharge of unknown amounts of natural gas, crude oil, and saltwater from a well in Cameron Parish, LA. NOTIFICATION ONLY. No products requested at this time.

On April 30, 2022, a mystery oil sheen was reported in Tabbs Bay, Texas near Goose Creek. The discharge is believed to be crude oil from a pipeline or well. On May 3, the USCG Sector Houston contacted the NOAA SSC for assistance with consultation procedures. Phone support was provided. A hydrologic survey to identify the source has been conducted. An OSRO will be on site on May 5 to deploy containment and boom.

On 2 May 2022, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Houma personnel notified NOAA SSC of a mystery sheen for NRC Report # 1334935 in the Gulf of Mexico, which is 28.5 NM Southeast of South Pass, LA. The mystery sheen currently has an unknown source near BOEM lease block 245. The spill quantity is estimated to be 47 barrels of oil with a sheen length of 31 miles and a width of 1 mile. There is an unknown responsible party. The NOAA SSC has requested USCG to confirm coordinates with the reporting party, BOEM. MSU Houma has requested a forecast trajectory.

ON April 25, 2022, the USCG Pollution Response Team contacted NOAA SSC regarding a release of 50 gallons of International 950-degreaser material into the Salmon Bay Ship canal. The material has since completely dissipated, but the Pollution Response Team has concerns about potential long-term effects to aquatic life in the area.

On April 24, 2022, the USCG Sector Charleston notified the NOAA SSC that a 45-foot fishing vessel with 300 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, sank 20 miles southeast of Charleston, SC. The Sector requested a trajectory.

On 21-Apr-2022, Bering Straits School District reported 13,500 gallons of heating fuel leaked from a storage tank into secondary containment. Secondary containment is covered with snow and ice. Conference call scheduled.

On April 19, 2022, the USCG notified the NOAA SSC regarding a release of approximately 16,800 gallons of liquid ammonium polyphosphate (fertilizer) into Point Comfort Bay. The SSC provided information on potential responder hazards, recovery options, and chemical fate and effects. The SSC coordinated with both NWS Corpus Christi, who provided SPOT forecasts for responders, and NWS Houston-Galveston, who share forecast responsibilities for the response area.

On 14-APR-2022, the NOAA SSC was notified by the EPA of a response to a fire at a NextGen commercial fueling facility in Medford, OR. The fire began about 2100L on 12-APR, several thousand gallons of petroleum caught fire, and petroleum products flowed into the storm drains to Bear Creek which leads to the Rouge River. The quantity of petroleum product released in the fire is unknown at this time, the maximum potential is approx. 42k gallons stored on site. An ESA Section 7 consultation and phone support were requested.

On 13-APR-2022, the USCG contacted the NW SSC to report that a 50’ vessel sank in Hawkes Marina, Everett, WA. There is an estimated 80 gallons of diesel on board, with a maximum potential of 400 gallons. The vessel is leaking and creating a visible sheen. The case has been federalized and Global Diving is hired. A localized trajectory and resources at risk were requested.

On April 8, 2022, a well owned by Sandpoint Texas LLC experienced an equipment failure, discharging an estimated 8 gallons of sweet crude into a bermed marsh area near High Island. The discharge was reported by the RP on April 11, 2022, and is at the same site but not the same well as the discharge which occurred on April 1, 2022. On April 12, MSU Port Arthur contacted the Texas SSC to request input on marsh clean-up methods.

At 1520 hrs on 09-APR-022, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC regarding an apparent petroleum coke (“pet coke”) fire at a shoreside facility in Benicia, CA. The fire had reportedly started around 1330 hrs local and was potentially threatening a nearby industrial pier where three large vessels were moored (tank ship, car carrier, and bulk cargo carrier). Local fire department was engaged with the fire on-scene while Sector SF was in transit for improved situational information. As a precaution, Sector SF requested a spot forecast and smoke plume model to better understand potential air hazards to responders and downwind populations.

At 1900 hrs on 08-APR-2022, USCG District 11 staff alerted their NOAA SSC of a drifting 560’ (172 m) container ship roughly 8 miles off Point Reyes. She was experiencing engine troubles and the anchor was dragging under heavy weather conditions from the NW. Three tugs are en route and a second anchor was deployed, which slowed drift to <1 knot. Even so, she continues to drift towards the Point Reyes National Seashore and is reportedly carrying roughly 39,000 gallons of fuel.

On April 1, 2022, an unknown amount of crude oil from a well discharge into a marsh area on High Island was reported. OSROs responded. On April 6, 2022, MSU Port Arthur contacted NOAA SSC for input on methods to address oil remaining in vegetation. Phone support provided, no further products requested.

On the morning of 06-APR-2022, NMFS Stranding Coordinator in CA contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a 40-foot-long gray whale carcass in San Francisco Bay, CA. NMFS requested a carcass drift estimate to aid in determining how far offshore to tow the carcass so it does not re-beach in the upcoming days.

On April 5th, 2022, the USCG notified the Great Lakes SSC of a fishing vessel that sank at the pier in Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan. The maximum potential release is an estimated 400 gallons of marine diesel. No request for NOAA products at this time.

At 8:00 am on 31 March 2022, USCG Sector Virginia notified the NOAA SSC that a NAVY Hawkeye plane crashed just north of Chincoteague Island in a marsh at approximately 7:30 pm on Wednesday 30 March. One crew member died, and two were rescued. The aircraft had 1,650 gals of JP-5 on board at the time of the incident. Navy and Sector Virginia response teams enroute. Sector Virginia requested resources at risk and trajectory.

In the early morning hours of 29-MAR-2022, USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a NESDIS Marine Pollution Surveillance Report (MPSR) that was issued at 2319 hrs on 28-MAR-2022. The center of the long, narrow anomaly was located roughly 78 nm NW of San Francisco with the portions closest to shore being roughly 18 nm NW of Point Reyes. USCG intends to deploy a first light overflight on the morning of 29-MAR and requested an estimated search area based on likely drift.

On March 24, 2022, the NOAA Great Lakes SSC was notified of a tug boat "Lake Superior" that sank at its pier in Duluth, MN. The tug boat has an estimated 7500 gallons of mixed oil, a contracted company has been hired to remove pollution. No request for NOAA products at this time. The location is approximate.

On the evening of 22-MAR-2022, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff contacted their SSC regarding a sailing vessel that had sunk off Santa Cruz, CA the prior evening. The last known position was roughly one mile south of Terrace Point. No fuel is expected on board, so the Sanctuary requested a drift estimate of the S/V as it sunk to assist the owner in relocating & removing it.

At approximately 0400 on 21-Mar02922, the tug vessel Western Mariner lost power in Neva Straits, north of Sitka Sound, and was forced aground via contact from its tow barge Chichagos Provider. The Western Mariner has a total capacity for 45000 gallons of diesel. It is unknown how much fuel was onboard at the time of the grounding. The vessel is leaking diesel. MSD Sitka is requesting and trajectory and fates analysis for the leaking diesel.