NEPCO 140 oil spill: Difference between revisions
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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 gallons of oil into the [[Saint Lawrence River]]. |
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 gallons of oil into the [[Saint Lawrence River]]. |
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==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 track in the thick fog.<ref name="http://www.uscg.mil/Legal/Suspension_Revocation/Commandant_Decisions/S_and_R_1980_2279/2153%20-%20MCKINNEY.pdf">{{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 resumied its upriver journey. The barge again ran aground four miles 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 section of the St. Lawrence River by the river’s swift current. As far [[downriver]] as [[Massena, New York]] and [[Brockville, Ontario]]. Shoreline, wildlife, rocks, and boats were covered with oil.<ref name="http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf">{{cite web |url=http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf |title=Save The River Report|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> Oil penetrated into extensive marshland areas.<ref name="http://books.google.com/books?id=b1ycNCepIicC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=June+23,+1976+oil+spill&source=bl&ots=CfbhWrY62T&sig=KvTZ0RTisFapqWbrsx-qobtQ-xc&hl=en&ei=XPRLStPZN5aytwe54YSxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5">{{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=b1ycNCepIicC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=June+23,+1976+oil+spill&source=bl&ots=CfbhWrY62T&sig=KvTZ0RTisFapqWbrsx-qobtQ-xc&hl=en&ei=XPRLStPZN5aytwe54YSxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5 |title=The use of chemicals in oil spill response|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref>At the time of the accident the spill was the worst inland oil spill in North American history. |
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==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]] 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]].<ref name="http://books.google.com/books?id=b1ycNCepIicC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=June+23,+1976+oil+spill&source=bl&ots=CfbhWrY62T&sig=KvTZ0RTisFapqWbrsx-qobtQ-xc&hl=en&ei=XPRLStPZN5aytwe54YSxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5">{{cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=b1ycNCepIicC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=June+23,+1976+oil+spill&source=bl&ots=CfbhWrY62T&sig=KvTZ0RTisFapqWbrsx-qobtQ-xc&hl=en&ei=XPRLStPZN5aytwe54YSxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5 |title=The use of chemicals in oil spill response|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> Neighbors worked hand-in-hand with government employees, students and national volunteers |
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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">{{cite web |url=http://www.savetheriver.org/docs/76_NEPCO_spill_fact_sheet.pdf |title=Save The River Report|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref> United States alleges 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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Revision as of 06:34, 3 July 2009
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 gallons of oil into the Saint Lawrence River.