NEW YORK – Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound’s pollution response team and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are investigating the source of an oil spill and conducting clean up operations in New Haven Harbor, Conn., Thursday, July 7, 2011.
A storm drain pipe, that empties into the harbor and is located between two oil transfer facilities, has been leaking fuel oil from an unknown source.
Since Monday, the Coast Guard utilized the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to hire a spill response contractor and boomed an area surrounding the pipe. More than 1,200 gallons of oily water has been skimmed and oil-absorbent pads have been used to collect oil inside the containment boom. Coast Guard pollution investigators have collected water and oil samples from the impacted area.
The Coast Guard, Connecticut DEP and oil transfer facility operators are working to locate and secure the source of the oil spill.
