T/V Canadian Liberty; Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania | 1992-Jul-04

Initial Notification: On July 4, 1992, the tank vessel Canadian Liberty (LI) was stripping tanks at the Sun Oil Refinery in Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania when improper valve alignment and operator error caused a slop tank to be overfilled. The product (BRC-17) was discharged from ullage and into the Delaware River. Initially, eight miles of the river bank, two miles of Woodbury Creek, and small boats in the area were oiled. The weather was overcast with building thunderheads, temperature 81?F, water temperature 67?F, winds from the west at seven to nine knots, and calm seas. Terminal personnel were having difficulty deploying boom at Fort Mifflin dock, so the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) sent personnel in a small boat to help. Cleanup contractors were hired and helped double boom the vessel at the scene. By July 5, cleanup of oil and vessels at the site continued and the contractor, Atlantic Strike Team, and USCG Marine Safety Office (MSO) personnel were cleaning up the New Jersey riverbank. Impacts were also reported in Big Timber, Woodbury, and Manuta creeks. Snares and absorbent wipes were ineffective during nighttime deployment. Only 17 birds were observed in slightly distressed condition from light oiling; however, they remained active and uncatchable. The response lasted approximately one month. USCG district 5. Keyword: none.