Recently, Coast Guard Sector Miami’s Pollution Response Team worked with the Boynton Police Department, Biscayne National Park Service, Miami-Dade Fire Department and Cliff Berry Inc. to prevent a potential of 865 gallons of oil from impacting the Boynton Beach, Juno Beach and Biscayne Bay areas of Florida’s coastline.
On Sept. 28, Sector Miami was notified by the National Response Center of multiple reports of oil drums floating in the waters of Biscayne Bay and near the beaches of Boynton and Juno. Two oil drums were reported floating about 8 miles off Boynton Beach at approximately 9:20 a.m. and the Boynton Police Department was able to recover two 30-gallon drums. Another eight 30-gallon drums of oil were reported and recovered by a good Samaritan approximately 13 miles off Juno Beach.
Cliff Berry Inc., an Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO), was contracted to help with the proper disposal of the petroleum in accordance with all federal laws.
At approximately 9:58 a.m. rangers with Biscayne National Park Services reported 14 drums of oil floating in Biscayne Bay. These drums were unrelated to the other reports along Boynton and Juno beaches. Miami-Dade Fire Department assisted the Coast Guard in locating the drums. Another ORSO team from Cliff Berry Inc. removed seven 55-gallon drums and six 30-gallons drums of gasoline from the water.
"The prompt response and assistance from Boynton Beach Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Department, and Cliff Berry Inc. helped remove a total of 23 unlabeled drums containing 865 gallons of potential pollution from the water", said Lt. Madeline Bucher, a Coast Guard Sector Miami Federal On Scene Coordinator representative.
The Coast Guard is investigating the drum markings and working with the manufacturer to determine the ownership and why the oil drums entered in the waterways.
"This mission could not have been accomplished without the seamless interagency support and combination of resources and abilities from federal, state and local partners with the same goal: to keep our waters clean," said Lt. j.g. Nicole Corbett, another Sector Miami Federal On Scene Coordinator representative.
To report pollution incidents, call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. These reports will help responders identify, reduce, and remove environmental threats.
Date Taken: |
09.28.2016 |
Date Posted: |
09.30.2016 15:56 |
Story ID: |
211049 |
Location: |
FLORIDA, US |
Web Views: |
144 |
Downloads: |
1 |
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