Americas News
Two Oil Spills Hit U.S. East Coast
A harbour on the U.S. East Coast was hit by two oil spills Thursday, local news site South Coast Today reports.
More than 200 gallons of marine diesel fuel (MDO) spilled on one side of New Bedford Harbour, located south of Boston, Massachusetts, at about 7:30 a.m., and a second spill of dirty bilge oil was reported around 12:24 p.m.
Officials have not determined the source of either spill.
Environmental contractor Frank Corp. used absorbent pads to remove the MGO, while the U.S. Coast Guard declared the bilge spill unrecoverable, and the oil was allowed to disperse and evaporate.
Officials said whoever is found responsible will be liable for the cost of cleanup and investigation and will be assessed additional penalties, but if they come forward soon it would reduce the punishment.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said the MGO spill "was not out of the ordinary," and that there were 15 spills in 2011 and eight last year, while the two spills Thursday were the fourth and fifth for 2013.
New Bedford is the nation's leading fishing port, according to the Boston Globe newspaper.
