Mazda Intracoastal Waterway Spill; Delray Beach, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida | 1994-Dec-05

Initial Notification: On December 5, 1994, a Florida Marine Patrol Officer reported that a residential canal in Delray Beach had a thick oil slick and the odor of diesel fuel was present. The USCG discovered that rain water had entered a local car dealer's underground waste oil storage tank and caused the tank to overflow. The oil was immediately contained with boom. Skimming proved to be unsuccessful, so sorbents were used to collect as much of the product as possible. The oil stained seawalls lining several residential canals in the area and several boats were oiled. In consultation with and approval from the RRT IV, the OSC and RP agreed to use high-pressure washing to clean the oiled seawalls and Corexit 9580 to clean the boat hulls in-situ. Corexit 9580 was also approved for use on the seawalls if pressure cleaning was inadequate. All cleanup was completed effectively, using only pressure washing on the seawalls and handwashing with Corexit 9580 on the boats. No impacts to environmental resources were noted. USCG district 7. Keyword: high-pressure wash, Corexit 9580.