MSRC Contains San Francisco Bay Oil Spill

Published May 5, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

MSRC responded to a diesel fuel spill in Suisun Bay, which feeds into San Francisco Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game?s Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP) are responding to a release from KMP?s 14-inch Concord to Sacramento, Calif., pipeline into 300-600 acres of wetlands.

Preliminary estimates indicate that less than 1,500 barrels of diesel were released into the Suisun Marsh about five miles south of Fairfield at about 7 p.m. on April 27, 2004 according to KMP. The pipeline has been shutdown and steps have been taken to contain the spill. Contrary to national reports, the spill was boomed and contained by MSRC and none of the product has reached the Suisun Slough or San Francisco Bay.

The KMP computerized control system detected an operational upset condition and shut down the pipeline. Land crews and an aerial patrol were dispatched to find the location of the leak. When the leak was located, KMP dispatched crews to begin containing and cleaning up the product and arranging for the repair of the pipeline. The U.S. Coast Guard, OSPR, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also dispatched personnel to the scene. The responding agencies, along with KMP, set up an Incident Command Post near the spill site as a central hub for coordination of the response effort.

Within hours, MSRC began deploying boom to contain the oil and laying down pads to absorb it. The Coast Guard?s Pacific Strike Team, a specialized oil spill response unit is assisting in boom deployment. Tide control gates in the area were closed to mitigate the extent of the oil?s impact. Preliminary indications are that the product is currently contained within a diked area and has not reached Suisun Slough.

The U.S. Coast Guard, OSPR, Kinder Morgan and other state and local agencies continue to work together to mitigate the spill's impact and to reduce environmental damage. Environmental assessments will be conducted today to determine mitigation strategies. The cause of the release is currently under investigation.