Imagery Available: Federal, state and local agencies cleaning up diesel spill in Portage Bay
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 03/05/2018 07:54 PM EST
News Release |
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest |
Federal, state and local agencies cleaning up diesel spill in Portage Bay
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SEATTLE — Federal, state and local agencies have responded to and are cleaning up a diesel spill in Portage Bay, Seattle, Monday afternoon.
Responders from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Incident Management Division, Washington Department of Ecology, University of Washington and contracted response companies are on scene and are placing absorbent materials to soak up an estimated 100 gallons of red-dye diesel.
Personnel at Sector Puget Sound received an oil spill report from the National Response Center at 11:41 a.m., reporting a diesel spill involving the Rachel Carson, a 135-foot research vessel owned and operated by the University of Washington. The spill reportedly occurred during an internal tank-to-tank transfer.
The vessel owners, following the Northwest Area Contingency Plan, began the response by making the NRC report, deploying boom and hiring cleanup contractors. The Marine Spill Response Corporation, Global Diving and Salvage and O'Brien's Response Management were hired to conduct recovery operations. Containment and absorbent boom is currently surrounding the spill and is not impeding vessel traffic. Absorbent pads, a vacuum truck and skimmers are aiding in fuel recovery.
The Coast Guard’s federal on scene coordinator–representative will oversee the cleanup and work with state partners at Ecology and University of Washington as the spill response continues.
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