Buskin River Diesel Spill; Kodiak, AK

Kodiak, AK | 2019-Mar-16

Initial Notification: On March 16, 2019, the NOAA SSC was contacted by the Department of the Interior regarding a diesel spill from an upland site along the Buskin River on Kodiak Island, AK. The leak of roughly 1,300 gallons diesel reportedly occurred overnight between an upland fuel storage tank and a newly installed generator and was discovered this morning. A significant portion of the spilled volume reached the Buskin River and sheens have been observed out to ½ mile from the river’s mouth into Saint Paul Harbor. The Buskin River is a primary recreational and subsistence fishing waterway on Kodiak Island and young pink salmon alevin are reportedly present along the banks of the river at this time. Sorbent and protective boom has been deployed.