SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard pollution investigators and facility inspectors responded Wednesday and Thursday to a diesel fuel spill at the Caribbean Petroleum Refining LP facility in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico.
Most of the diesel fuel was spilled on land while a lesser amount was spilled into the water. The cause of the spill is currently under investigation and the total amount of diesel fuel that was spilled is being calculated by Caribbean Petroleum Refining LP representatives.
Coast Guard controllers received notification from the National Response Center at approximately 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, immediately after Caribbean Petroleum Refinery LP personnel reported the incident to the National response Center, that an unknown amount of diesel fuel had been spilled during a fuel transfer at their facility. Coast Guard pollution investigators and facility inspectors were immediately deployed to the scene to assess the situation and assist the responsible party with coordinating clean up and recovery efforts.
Caribbean Petroleum Refining LP hired the National Response Corporation to conduct cleanup and recovery operations. National Response Corporation personnel deployed approximately 1,200 feet of containment boom and 300 feet absorbent boom around the affected area and have initiated recovery operations of the product.
Representatives from the Coast Guard, Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality Board, Emergency Management Agency, Guaynabo Municipal Police and Fire Departments and Caribbean Petroleum Refinery LP personnel will continue to coordinate a unified response to ensure safe and effective operations and to protect any environmentally sensitive areas at risk.
