Oil Spill

Articles

Oil slick in water viewed from the air at the Taylor MC20 site.

Settlement Proposed to Restore Natural Resources from an Oil Spill in Offshore Louisiana
Two days after the spill occurred, oil had spread nearly 100 miles downriver, and carried into forested batture habitat.

Final Plan Released to Restore Natural Resources Impacted by the Fuel Barge DM932 Oil Spill

$2.1 M Finalized for Restoration at the Bayport Channel Oil Spill Site in Texas

Aerial photo of batture with oiling from Barge DM932 Oil Spill

Trustees for Gretna DM 932 Mississippi River Oil Spill Release Draft Restoration Plan for Public Comment
Oil on the beach at Refugio State Park in Santa Barbara, California, on May 19, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard)

$22.3 Million Settlement Finalized to Restore Natural Resources Injured by Refugio Beach Oil Spill
People in yellow suits hose a rocky shoreline

Story Map: Examining the Oil Pollution Act’s Legacy Through 30 Oil Spills
Recreational anglers fish off a boat in the Brandywine River. Credit TCDavis.

Athos Oil Spill Trustees Approve Delaware Boat Ramp Project
Oil lines the shore on Refugio Beach after a 2015 oil spill, Santa Barbara, CA

Refugio Beach Oil Spill Trustees Release a Draft Assessment and Restoration Plan for Public Comment
Two cleanup workers in white protective gear and yellow boots stand next to oiled rocks and ocean in background.

$22.3 Million Proposed to Restore Natural Resources Injured by Refugio Beach Oil Spill
A barge floats next to an oil boom protecting waters and shoreline from spreading oil.

Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan Released for the Tug Powhatan Oil Spill in Alaska

Catching crabs with baited bags on line. Crabs netted at surface and measured for keeper size on deck.

Crabbing and Fishing Pier Project Approved for South Carolina Oil Spill Restoration
Underwater view of damaged and dead corals.

New Story Map: $28 Million to Restore Marine Resources Damaged by Pollution
The barge Salvation, the KP-2 deck barge, and two tugs tied up at Samson’s dock. The Alaskan Salvor located inside the containment boom around the tug Powhatan. (Photo provided by Samson Tug & Barge; June 4, 2017)

Public Invited to Comment on Draft Restoration Plan for Oil Spill in Sitka, Alaska
Dark oil photographed during a Coast Guard overflight on May 12, 2016.

Shell Green Canyon Settlement: $3.65 million for Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico
Two excavator machines work on building a shoreline project. A barge holding materials is in the water offshore.

Draft Amendment to Chalk Point Restoration Plan Released for Public Comment
Dark oil photographed during a Coast Guard overflight on May 12, 2016.

U.S. Department of Justice seeks comment on a proposed settlement for natural resource damages at Shell Green Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico
Sarah Allen assesses injuries to natural resources from her post in Alaska.

Meet Toxicologist Sarah Allan from Alaska
Kelp forests like this one of of Catalina Island provide shelter and food for fish and invertebrate species.

NOAA Announces Partnership to Restore Habitats Damaged by Oil and Hazardous Waste

Aerial photo of the Mississippi coast with a living shoreline project that includes natural and artificial breakwater material and marsh creation to reduce shoreline erosion.

Gulf Spill Restoration: Two Years After Settlement
Deepwater Horizon Trustee staff in boats and on marsh shorelines look at oil on the water's surface.

Deepwater Horizon: Louisiana Trustees Finalize Barataria Strategic Restoration Plan
Participants celebrate the re-opening of Jeff Friend Trail at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama (photo U.S. Dept. of Interior)

Trail Reopening Event Highlights Significance of Ecotourism in Gulf

Case Pages

An overflight image of damaged tanks.

ITC Tank Fire
Oil can be seen rising to the surface at the origin of the slick emanating from the Taylor MC20 site. Credit: NOAA

Taylor Energy
Oil sheen, containment boom, and deflection boom in Starrigavan Bay on April 23, 2017. (Photo provided by the US Coast Guard)

Tug Powhatan
Dark oil photographed during a Coast Guard overflight on May 12, 2016.

Shell Green Canyon 248
Pre-Construction at Noisette Creek. This former Naval Base golf course abuts Noisette Creek, off the Cooper River in Charleston South Carolina.

Cooper River/ MV Everreach
First responders set out oil sorbent pads and boom on Prall’s Island in the days following the spill.

Exxon Bayway
Overflight photo of shoreline sheening and recovery operations.

Citgo Refinery - Calcasieu River
After the Chalk Point oil spill in Maryland in 2000, a NOAA scientist samples sediment to determine the impact on bottom-dwelling creatures.

Chalk Point
Two days after the spill occurred, oil had spread nearly 100 miles downriver, and carried into forested batture habitat making oil recovery and cleanup difficult.

Fuel Barge DM932
The San Miguel Natural Reserve was acquired with settlement funds to compensate the public for lost recreational use of the beaches impacted by the spill.

Barge Berman
In 1996, the tank barge North Cape and the tugboat Sandia grounded off the coast of Rhode Island resulting the worst oil spill in the state's history.

North Cape
View of the Penobscot River looking just north of the site from the southeast side of the river.

Gulf-Chevron Terminal Facility
A section of stream with few trees, mostly grasses and bushes.

Beaver Creek

The vessel broke in two, releasing about 350,000 of petroleum fuel and marine diesel.

M/V Selendang Ayu
A Coast Guard response boat patrolled the Kirby Barge 27706 during cleanup efforts near Texas City Dike on March 23, 2014. (USCG)

Texas City Y
Scientists assess impacts to mussel shells from response-related boat traffic.

Enbridge Pipeline Release
Oil on the beach at Refugio State Park in Santa Barbara, California, on May 19, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Refugio Beach Oil Spill
Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Deepwater Horizon
Disabled Tank Barge DBL 152 vessel before capsizing showing discharge of oil.

Tank Barge DBL 152
Cleanup workers collect oiled debris from sand beach, South Dartmouth, MA.

Bouchard Barge 120
Athos I lists to starboard the day after the spill began.

M/T Athos I
Large woody debris in restored tributary to Whatcom Creek provides habitat for salmon.

Whatcom Creek
Response crews attempt to remove the remaining oil aboard the grounded tanker Exxon Valdez.

Exxon Valdez
An approximate 100-foot gash in the hull of the vessel resulted in a 53,000 gallon fuel oil spill.

M/V Cosco Busan