By Karen Robes Meeks
An oil spill, 49 miles north of Kodiak in Shuyak Strait, Alaska, earlier this week has prompted the US Coast Guard and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to set up a Unified Command response.
“The Unified Command's priorities are to limit environmental impacts through the containment and cleanup of the spill as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Capt. Sean MacKenzie, Unified Command’s Federal on Scene Coordinator. “We are working diligently to minimize the impact to wildlife and the environment.”
Coast Guard, ADEC and Alaska Chadux Corporation crews are responding to the spill, which apparently happened after an abandoned building and an oil fuel bladder within it collapsed due to extreme weather Monday morning. The weather on Monday saw 40 mph winds and gusts up to 75 mph.
According to the Coast Guard, the bladder may have spilled up to 3,000 gallons of bunker C fuel oil.
The Coast Guard, which opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, is partnering with oil spill removal group Alaska Chadux to help with cleanup efforts.
