Astoria, Oregon — The United States Coast Guard and local salvage personnel discovered the potential source of an oil sheen found in the Columbia River on Saturday, January 20th. The Coast Guard personnel alongside state, local, and contracted responders worked to install a containment boom in various areas to prevent further spread into the Columbia River.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River’s Incident Management Division team, in conjunction with Global Diving and Salvage personnel, located a 20-foot-long tank underneath the Cannery Pier in Astoria. The teams are working to minimize the environmental impacts on the Columbia River, however it is reported that the tank has a maximum spill potential of 4,200 gallons. It is currently unknown how much product has been discharged from the tank.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Sector Columbia River aircrew.
The crews are working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, as well as the Washington Department of Ecology to develop a plan to address the potential removal of portions of the pier, allowing access to the tank and removal of the fuel.
Oil samples were taken and will be sent to the Marine Safety Laboratory in New London, Connecticut, for further analysis.
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