Capital Terminal; East Providence, RI

East Providence, RI | 2011-Aug-31

Initial Notification: On the morning of Aug 31st, a construction vehicle struck a high pressure oil transfer line at the Capital Terminal in East Providence, RI while a barge was off-loading and created a geyser of oil that first sprayed approximately a 1 acre area and then, once the valves were closed (5-6 minutes), leaked onto the ground. The estimated aerial release was approximately 40-50 thousand gallons of diesel fuel and the remaining flow is yet to be determined, but could bring the total to over 100K. Virtually the entire release is confined to the land, either in the spray area or in a quickly constructed dike area. Only minor sheens have been reported in the Seekonk River. Gross oil recovery is nearly complete and gauging is in progress to determine the amount released. Assessments are in progress o determine the amount of oil remaining in the soil on top of the water table. NOAA is assisting in estimating the evaporation amounts and ultimately the mass balance so that the amount remaining in the nearby soil can be approximated.