Oil leak containment efforts in Lindbergh Bay led by the U.S. Coast Guard with help from the V.I. Water and Power Authority.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority has issued an update on a fuel oil release incident that occurred in late 2023, providing the public with information about the response efforts, environmental safeguards, and long-term mitigation plans now in place.
WAPA confirmed that approximately 4,900 gallons of No. 2 fuel oil were released into the environment during the incident. Immediate recovery operations were initiated, during which a mixture of fuel oil and water was successfully removed and processed using WAPA’s on-site oil-water separator system. These actions were conducted in compliance with environmental safety protocols, the authority said.
Substantial cleanup efforts following the spill were completed by May 2024. WAPA has since implemented a series of mitigation measures, finalized in March 2025, aimed at enhancing the authority’s environmental protection capabilities, according to the release.
As part of its long-term response, WAPA said it has upgraded its oil management systems. This includes the installation of new containment catchments. These upgrades were strategically designed to intercept and prevent any future fuel releases.
Water quality testing and shoreline inspections have continued regularly since the incident. To date, no further environmental impact has been detected. The authority’s personnel remain engaged in daily monitoring and upkeep of the containment catchments and adjacent areas, with a stated goal of protecting both public health and the local ecosystem.
Karl Knight, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of WAPA, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the community’s concerns. “We understand the concerns this incident raised for our community and our environment,” said Knight. “My team alongside our local and federal partners have assured me that from day one, the priority has been to contain, clean up, and strengthen our systems to prevent future occurrences.”
WAPA also noted that it is awaiting the final documentation from the U.S. Coast Guard related to the incident.
