Coast Guard requests public to mark barrels used to secure personal docks, piers on Lake Ontario

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/19/2017 08:07 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

May 19, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 9th District Great Lakes
Contact: Ens. Kyle Maxey
Office: (716) 843-9521

 

Coast Guard requests public to mark barrels used to secure personal docks, piers on Lake Ontario 

 

Coast Guard requests public to mark barrels used to secure personal docks, piers on Lake Ontario

 

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Coast Guard is requesting that members of the public who are using barrels and drums in order to weigh down piers and docks, to place a large, red “X” on those objects so that they can be identified as "non-hazardous" if they become adrift, Friday.

With the increased water levels throughout the region and along Lake Ontario and tributaries, many homeowners are using barrels to mark their docks and to help weigh them down. This is also helping to mark potential hazards posed by otherwise submerged and unseen docks.

By placing a large, red “X” on the barrels, Coast Guard crews can quickly identify it as a non-hazardous container if it becomes adrift and allow its origin and potential contents to be resolved more quickly, mitigating the need of further specialized investigation.

If any barrels become adrift and the contents are unmarked, by law, the Coast Guard responds to them as a potentially hazardous substance since the contents are unknown and could possibly contain dangerous chemical or petroleum products. Significant diligence is required for processing unidentified containers, which can possibly include hiring a hazardous material contractor to recover the barrel out of the waterway and to verify there is no risk to the public or environment from the contents.

The cost can exceed $5,000 per container. Additionally, Coast Guard personnel are required to stay on scene with the container. This would potentially take personnel away from other local emergency responses or search and rescue cases in the region.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Buffalo Command Center at 716-843-9527.

 

 -USCG-