Authorities Respond to Diesel Fuel Spill Off Fort Bragg Coast

Authorities Respond to Diesel Fuel Spill Off Fort Bragg Coast

On March 15, between midnight and 1:24 a.m., crew members aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Alder discovered that approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel had been released into the ocean about 30 miles off the coast of Fort Bragg, California.

Immediate Response and Notifications

Alameda officers, including US Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Incident Management Division authorities, were promptly contacted regarding the spill. The Alder, a 225-foot multi-purpose vessel based in San Francisco on Yerba Buena Island, was initially assigned to Duluth, Minnesota, and reassigned to the West Coast in 2022. All relevant state and environmental agencies, including the California Fish and Wildlife Spill Prevention and Response Office (OSPR), were notified of the incident.

Monitoring and Assessment

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided guidance for monitoring the spill and its drift. By Friday afternoon, a US Coast Guard flyover reported that the fuel was drifting east and evaporating. NOAA predicted that the 500-gallon spill would evaporate within 18 hours since diesel fuel is categorized as a "non-persistent fuel." NOAA classifies a spill between 500 and 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel as "small."

Environmental Impact

Due to diesel fuel's lighter-than-water properties, it remains on the ocean's surface and does not sink to accumulate on the ocean bottom or adhere to sediments. NOAA research indicates that diesel is one of the most acutely toxic oil types, potentially killing any fish or invertebrates that come into direct contact with it in the water column. However, small spills in open water are rapidly diluted, preventing fish kills, which have never been reported in such cases.

Marine birds can be affected by small spills, but the quick evaporation of diesel typically results in minimal impact. Significant harm to birds and shellfish is more likely if the spill occurs near nesting areas or close to shore, where coral reefs and seagrass beds could be adversely affected.

Official Statements and Ongoing Investigation

Sarah Grimes, Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator and Educator at the Noyo Center for Marine Science, stated, "I have not been contacted about this incident." She noted that the response has been managed by state, federal, and military authorities rather than including local response teams.

Chief Petty Officer Levi A. Read, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard, commented, "The US Coast Guard’s investigation into the cause of the spill is ongoing but has no timeline for completion." He detailed how the cutter’s crew monitors fuel use and checks for visible signs of fuel discharge into the ocean, a protocol confirmed by Grimes from her own experience.

Routine Operations and Incident Context

The Alder, a buoy tender cutter, was en route to Humboldt Bay on a routine mission to maintain navigational channel buoys along the California coast, from north of Los Angeles to the Oregon border. The spill was discovered during routine operations, with the crew determining the one-and-a-half-hour window during which it occurred.

Rear Admiral Andrew Sugimoto, Commander of District 11, stated, "We are investigating the incident and working diligently to minimize any potential environmental impacts. Our priority is protecting the environment and preventing future incidents."

While the spill was classified as small and is expected to have minimal long-term environmental impact, the incident underscores the importance of stringent monitoring and response protocols to protect marine life and coastal ecosystems. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause of the spill and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

What caused the diesel fuel spill off Fort Bragg’s coast

The diesel fuel spill off the coast of Fort Bragg was caused by an incident involving a Coast Guard cutter. The exact cause of the spill is still under investigation by the US Coast Guard. The environmental impact of the spill, which involved 500 gallons of diesel fuel, is expected to be minimal as diesel fuel tends to evaporate within 18 hours and does not persist in the environment by sinking or adhering to sediments. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that marine life is unlikely to be significantly affected due to the rapid dilution of the fuel in open water. The response and monitoring efforts for this spill are being coordinated by various authorities, including the US Coast Guard, NOAA, and the California Fish and Wildlife Spill Prevention and Response Office (OSPR).

Conclusion

In summary, the diesel fuel spill off Fort Bragg's coast is currently under investigation, with authorities working to determine its precise cause. While the environmental impact is expected to be minimal due to the non-persistent nature of diesel fuel and its rapid evaporation, state, federal, and military agencies are actively managing the situation. This coordinated response aims to mitigate any potential harm to marine life and ensure the safety and health of the coastal ecosystem.

​Source: https://www.advocate-news.com/2024/03/21/coat-guard-cutter-spills-500-gallons-of-diesel-fuel-near-fort-bragg/