Oil leak containment efforts in Lindbergh Bay led by the U.S. Coast Guard with help from the V.I. Water and Power Authority. Photo Credit: U.S. COAST GUARD
The U.S. Coast Guard is actively supervising ongoing response efforts to a diesel spill at the Randolph Harley Power Plant in St. Thomas, which occurred on October 25.
As part of these efforts, the Coast Guard says that oil recovery teams have successfully gathered approximately 26,000 gallons of diesel and water from both the plant's secondary containment unit and affected land areas.
The incident originated from the number 11 tank at the Water and Power Authority's Randolph Harley Power Plant. The tank has since been drained of its contents, leaving only sludge and residual material.
Responders, according to a November 1 press release from the Coast Guard, are now focused on thoroughly clearing the tank and retrieving all remaining substances. Diesel that had spilled into the secondary containment area has all been removed, officials say, with crews now decontaminating that area while attempting to locate the breach that led to the diesel spilling outside the containment zone.
Efforts are also being made to manage environmental impacts, says the Coast Guard. Crews have dug trenches to channel the diesel to collection points for recovery, and have also deployed absorbents to halt further spread. A strategy is being developed to handle the disposal of contaminated soil, officials have said.
The Coast Guard says that while no adverse effects have been reported thus far, it is remaining vigilant about the potential impact the spill has had on nearby waterways. Additional personnel from the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team are expected to arrive on St. Thomas shortly to aid in assessing and addressing any waterway impacts.
Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Sanders, a marine science technician and the federal on-scene coordinator representative, stated, "Heavy rain, steep terrain, and equipment limitations have slowed certain aspects of the pollution response; however, substantial progress has been made." Mr. Sanders noted WAPA's cooperative and proactive approach in addressing the incident and shared priorities in safeguarding community health and the environment.
The incident was initially reported in late October to Coast Guard personnel in St. Thomas, and later, the Coast Guard Sector San Juan was informed through a National Response Center report. A subsequent Coast Guard visit confirmed the diesel spill beyond the secondary containment area, prompting ongoing investigations into the cause and full extent of the spill.
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