A fuel spill in Baltimore Harbor impacted wildlife, boaters, local traffic in the area. On the morning on June 5, crews from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region responded to a diesel fuel spill near the East Harbor Marina in the Patapsco River.
The State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, and United States Coast Guard engaged in a coordinated response, pooling resources to evaluate, respond to, and contain the spill.
Representatives from state and municipal agencies were onsite, including:
- Office of the Governor
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Maryland Department of Emergency Management
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Maryland Department of General Services
- Baltimore City Mayor’s Office
- Baltimore City Fire Department
- Baltimore City Police Department
- Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management
- Baltimore City Department of Public Works
- Baltimore City Department of Transportation
The U.S. Coast Guard requested the public to stay clear from the area in an effort to help responders on scene.
Around 11 AM on June 5, Johns Hopkins Hospital reported a contained 200 gallon diesel spill at their facility in East Baltimore.
The Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to respond to a 911 call for a diesel fuel spill in a marina in Harbor East.
By 2:00 PM, the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, and U.S. Coast Guard began up a coordinated response.
Later in the day, Hopkins updated their report to reflect a 2,000 gallon uncontained spill of diesel fuel. Eventually, the estimate was increased to 5000 gallons.
Officials preliminarily identified the source of the spill as a Johns Hopkins Hospital facility at 1780 East Fayette Street, roughly 1.3 miles from the site of the leak.
The spill was contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor East, in an area roughly 100 x 250 yards. Red dye in the diesel fuel discolored water in the vicinity of the spill.
To contain and remove the fuel, the Coast Guard worked with contractor Miller Environmental Group on cleanup efforts, using oil absorbent materials and skimmers feeding into a 4,000-gallon pump truck. Additional contractors were called on to aid in response.
Traffic impacts during the spill included closures from Central Avenue to Fleet Street. Harbor Connector boat service was also disrupted during the initial response and cleanup.
sources: Maryland Office of the Governor, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region
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