NEPCO 140 oil spill: Difference between revisions
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==Oil spill== |
==Oil spill== |
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On June 23, 1976, the [[tugboat]] ''Eileen C'' was pushing the NEPCO 140 [[barge]] filled with crude oil when it ran aground in the [[American Narrows]] off [[Wellesley Island]] in the [[Thousand Islands]] region. The Captain had not made a large enough adjustment to his course when realizing the vessel was off |
On June 23, 1976, the [[tugboat]] ''Eileen C'' was pushing the NEPCO 140 [[barge]], filled with crude oil, when it ran aground in the [[American Narrows]], off [[Wellesley Island]], in the [[Thousand Islands]] region. The Captain had not made a large enough adjustment to his course, when realizing the vessel was off-track in the thick [[fog]].<ref name="Suspension_Revocation/Commandant_Decisions">{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/Legal/Suspension_Revocation/Commandant_Decisions/S_and_R_1980_2279/2153%20-%20MCKINNEY.pdf |title=Albert T. McKINNEY v. US - 30 April 1979|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> Upon running aground, the barge ruptured two tanks and began leaking oil. It then backed-off the rock and resumed its upriver journey. The barge again ran aground, four miles (6 km) further upriver and ruptured another tank on a shoal near Mason Point, while trying to set anchor, per the [[U.S. Coast Guard]]'s orders. The barge leaked oil into the river for more than a day. The spill was carried-over an {{convert|80|mi|km|adj=on}} section of the St. Lawrence River, by the river’s swift current. Shoreline, wildlife, rocks, and boats were covered with oil, as far downriver as [[Massena (village), New York|Massena, New York]] and [[Brockville, Ontario]].<ref name=76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet>{{cite web|url=http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf|title=Save The River Report|accessdate=2009-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224202821/http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf|archive-date=2012-02-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> Oil penetrated into extensive marshland areas.<ref name=book>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b1ycNCepIicC&q=June+23,+1976+oil+spill&pg=PA228 |title=The use of chemicals in oil spill response|isbn=9780803119994|accessdate=2009-07-01|last1=Lane|first1=Peter|year=1995}}</ref> At the time of the accident, the spill was the worst inland oil spill in North American history. |
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==Cleanup== |
==Cleanup== |
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It was difficult for clean-up officials to fully document the damage to the St. Lawrence River ecosystem. An attempt was made to determine the [[Mortality rate|mortality]] of wildlife. A count of animal mortality included 226 [[waterfowl]] and [[ducks]] and 508 [[bird]]s, [[mammals]] and [[amphibians]]. Several hundred waterfowl, ducks, other birds, and countless fish were harmed or killed by the spill. Chemical shoreline cleaners were used much like what was used during the [[Exxon Valdez oil spill]].<ref name= |
It was difficult for clean-up officials to fully document the damage to the St. Lawrence River ecosystem. An attempt was made to determine the [[Mortality rate|mortality]] of wildlife. A count of animal mortality included 226 [[waterfowl]] and [[ducks]] and 508 [[bird]]s, [[mammals]] and [[amphibians]]. Several hundred waterfowl, ducks, other birds, and countless fish were harmed or killed by the spill. Chemical shoreline cleaners were used, much like what was used during the [[Exxon Valdez oil spill]].<ref name=book /> Neighbors worked hand-in-hand with government employees, students and national volunteers for months. Clean-up of the oil was accomplished primarily by intensive hand labor, through power-washing shorelines and hand cutting and hauling contaminated underwater and marsh vegetation. The clean-up was terminated on October 22, 1976; 122 days after the spill. However, many areas with oil contamination were not cleaned-up and the oil was left to degrade naturally.<ref name=76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet/> The United States alleged it spent $8,062,981 to clean its territorial waters and reimbursed Canada, pursuant to an executive agreement for their $768,265 spent.<ref name="http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/664/664.F2d.327.81-6084.1608.html">{{cite web |url=http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/664/664.F2d.327.81-6084.1608.html |title=664 F.2d 327|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> |
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for months. Clean-up of the oil was accomplished primarily by intensive hand labor through power washing shorelines and hand cutting and hauling contaminated underwater and marsh vegetation. The cleanup was terminated on October 22, 1976, 122 days after the spill. However, many areas with oil contamination were not cleaned up and the oil was left to degrade naturally.<ref name="http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf"/> The United States alleged it spent $8,062,981 to clean its territorial waters and reimbursed Canada, pursuant to an executive agreement for their $768,265 spent.<ref name="http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/664/664.F2d.327.81-6084.1608.html">{{cite web |url=http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/664/664.F2d.327.81-6084.1608.html |title=664 F.2d 327|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://people.clarkson.edu/~pdy/lawrence.htm Clarkson University Integrated Oil and Chemical Spill Model] |
*[http://people.clarkson.edu/~pdy/lawrence.htm Clarkson University Integrated Oil and Chemical Spill Model] |
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{{1976 shipwrecks}} |
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[[Category:Jefferson County, New York]] |
[[Category:Jefferson County, New York]] |
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[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1976]] |
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1976]] |
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[[Category:Oil spills in the United States]] |
[[Category:Oil spills in the United States]] |
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[[Category:1976 in New York]] |
[[Category:1976 in New York (state)]] |
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[[Category:1976 in the environment]] |
[[Category:1976 in the environment]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:16, 26 June 2022
The NEPCO 140 Oil Spill took place in 1976 near Clayton, New York when the NEPCO 140 ran aground while traveling inland, spilling an estimated 300,000 US gallons (1,100 m3) of oil into the Saint Lawrence River.
Oil spill
[edit]On June 23, 1976, the tugboat Eileen C was pushing the NEPCO 140 barge, filled with crude oil, when it ran aground in the American Narrows, off Wellesley Island, in the Thousand Islands region. The Captain had not made a large enough adjustment to his course, when realizing the vessel was off-track in the thick fog.[1] Upon running aground, the barge ruptured two tanks and began leaking oil. It then backed-off the rock and resumed its upriver journey. The barge again ran aground, four miles (6 km) further upriver and ruptured another tank on a shoal near Mason Point, while trying to set anchor, per the U.S. Coast Guard's orders. The barge leaked oil into the river for more than a day. The spill was carried-over an 80-mile (130 km) section of the St. Lawrence River, by the river’s swift current. Shoreline, wildlife, rocks, and boats were covered with oil, as far downriver as Massena, New York and Brockville, Ontario.[2] Oil penetrated into extensive marshland areas.[3] At the time of the accident, the spill was the worst inland oil spill in North American history.
Cleanup
[edit]It was difficult for clean-up officials to fully document the damage to the St. Lawrence River ecosystem. An attempt was made to determine the mortality of wildlife. A count of animal mortality included 226 waterfowl and ducks and 508 birds, mammals and amphibians. Several hundred waterfowl, ducks, other birds, and countless fish were harmed or killed by the spill. Chemical shoreline cleaners were used, much like what was used during the Exxon Valdez oil spill.[3] Neighbors worked hand-in-hand with government employees, students and national volunteers for months. Clean-up of the oil was accomplished primarily by intensive hand labor, through power-washing shorelines and hand cutting and hauling contaminated underwater and marsh vegetation. The clean-up was terminated on October 22, 1976; 122 days after the spill. However, many areas with oil contamination were not cleaned-up and the oil was left to degrade naturally.[2] The United States alleged it spent $8,062,981 to clean its territorial waters and reimbursed Canada, pursuant to an executive agreement for their $768,265 spent.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Albert T. McKINNEY v. US - 30 April 1979" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ a b "Save The River Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ a b Lane, Peter (1995). The use of chemicals in oil spill response. ISBN 9780803119994. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "664 F.2d 327". Retrieved 2009-07-01.
External links
[edit]Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1976 | |
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| Other incidents |
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