Response to the January 1990 Arthur Kill Heating Oil Spill

Abstract

ABSTRACT A spill of approximately 13,500 bbl (567,000 gallons) of No. 2 heating oil occurred on January 2, 1990, from an Exxon pipeline in the Arthur Kill waterway, which separates Staten Island from New Jersey. Areas affected by the spill included the New Jersey and New York shorelines of the Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, and Newark Bay, including environmentally sensitive areas at Pralls Island, Shooters Island, and Fresh Kills. A preestablished Exxon management team supervised cleanup activities under the oversight of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the pre-designated federal on-scene coordinator. A central command center was set up to interact with the appropriate agencies and to conduct morning and afternoon briefings. To assist in the cleanup, Exxon used equipment of the local oil spill cooperative, Clean Harbors Cooperative, five oil spill contractors, the USCG Atlantic Area Strike Team, and U.S. Navy skimmers. Cooperative equipment was primarily operated by a team of Exxon “first responders” during the initial stages of the response. Tri-state Bird Rescue and Exxon employees were actively involved in wildlife recovery and rehabilitation activities. At the operation's peak, more than 150 Exxon personnel and 400 contract personnel were involved; over 60,000 feet of containment and 400,000 feet of sorbent boom were used; and 40 vacuum trucks, 70 boats, 10 mobile skimmers, and 4 helicopters were in service. Within three weeks more than 140,000 gallons of oil were collected.