Potomac River Mineral Oil Spill; Alexandria, VA

Alexandria, VA | 2011-Jan-25

Initial Notification: BALTIMORE – The Coast Guard, along with local agencies, are responding to a mineral oil spill in the Potomac River near Alexandria, Va. on Monday, January 24. Pepco employees notified the Coast Guard Sunday at 12:40 p.m., reporting approximately 5,000 gallons of mineral oil was believed to have leaked from a transformer at the Pepco substation in Alexandria. It was also reported, that an additional 500 gallons had leaked into the Potomac River. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore’s Incident Management Division personnel arrived on scene at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday and conducted a shoreline assessment of the area. Triumvirate Environmental and Clean Harbors have been hired by Pepco to contain and dispose of the oil. The oil that reached the waterway has been contained by boom. The cause of the spill is under investigation. USCG Sector Baltimore contacted NOAA SSC early evening on Tuesday, Jan. 25. USCG reported that mineral oil was not dispersing and requested information from NOAA about toxicity concerns if any, and rate of dispersion. Chris Barker, Robert Jones, and Gary Shigenaka provided support.