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Massachusetts Department Of Environmental Protection News

31 Oct 2019

Offshore Wind: a Freshening Breeze?

AdobeStock_CREDIT Yauhen Suslo

July brought news about offshore wind. There was something for everyone: optimism, disappointment, and construction, too.Finally, starting with Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, a joint venture with Danish wind developer Orsted is underway. True, this is a small project – just two wind turbines to be installed 27 miles east of Virginia Beach. But considering all the preceding hurdles, news about Dominion blew in as proverbial, hopeful fresh air. Surely…

15 Apr 2018

USCG respond to oil leak in Mystic River

The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection responded to a dielectric oil leak Friday in the Mystic River near the Alford St. bridge. The source is believed to be a small, slow leak from a cable under the river. Initially, Mass DEP and a pollution response team from Coast Guard Sector Boston discovered a notable rainbow sheen during a routine patrol of the river. Boom was deployed around the sheen, and later, an investigation determined the probable source was a cable encased in a metal pipeline which runs under the river. The exact location of the leak along the pipe has not yet been identified. Both agencies…

19 May 2015

USCG Terminates Charters Boat Voyage In Buzzards Bay

The Coast Guard terminated the trip of a 23-foot charter vessel today in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, due to an expired operator's license and evidence of illegal fishing. During a random safety boarding, a crew from Coast Guard Station Woods Hole, Massachusetts, boarded the vessel and discovered the master's license had expired in 2008. Upon further inspection, the crew found black sea bass which were illegally caught during the off season. Black sea bass season does not open until May 23rd in the State of Massachusetts. The Station Woods Hole crew escorted the vessel and its five passengers back to the dock. Upon arrival at the dock, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection found more than 100 black sea bass aboard and seized the catch.

11 Jul 2014

USCG Responds to Boston Drydock Oil Spill

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Boston pollution response crew is responding to an oil spill from the USNS Fisher, drydocked at the Boston Ship Repair facility. The spill, estimated at approximately 11,000 gallons, is self-contained in drydock and there is currently no oil in the water. At approximately 9 p.m., Wednesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Boston received a report of an oil spill in the vicinity of Drydock Avenue, in Boston. Responders include a Coast Guard Sector Boston facility and pollution response team, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Boston Fire Department. Response teams placed 600 feet of double boom around the drydock to ensure no oil enters the water and six commercial vacuum trucks were deployed to clean up the spill.

14 Aug 2013

Tug and Barge Allision Near Cape Cod

The Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it responded to an allision between a tug and barge taking on water near the Cape Cod Canal Wednesday. At 11:28 p.m. Tuesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England were notified from the crew of the 112-foot tug Doris Morian, homeported in Wilmington, Del., that they had reportedly lost power while towing the 410-foot barge Alexander and the two allided. The Doris Morian crew was able to tow the Alexander outside of the Canal into Buzzards Bay to an anchorage approximately two miles east of West Island. The barge is taking on approximately five-feet of water and pumps are keeping up with the water. The barge is carrying cement and was en route to New York. There has been no reported impact to the environment.

08 Nov 2011

EPA to Reduce Emissions with Engine Repower Cash

EPA has recently awarded $250,000 to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP). Together with another $250,000 provided by the State, these funds will be used to repower two marine vessels, a passenger ferry and an excursion vessel, operating in the Gulf of Maine. Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in urban areas. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects. The Northeast has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, including a childhood asthma rate above 10 percent in all six New England states.

12 Feb 2008

LNG Ship Disabled off Cape Cod

The Unified Command at Coast Guard Sector Boston is continuing to monitor and assist the Liquefied Natural Gas tanker Catalunya Spirit, which lost propulsion and became disabled and adrift east of Cape Cod Monday morning. Teekay Corporation, which operates the Catalunya Spirit, contracted four tugboats and three technical representatives to assist the tanker. The tugboats Freedom and Liberty arrived on scene with the tanker about 10 p.m., Monday. The Freedom placed the Catalunya Spirit under tow…

26 Apr 2004

Buzzard’s Bay: One Year Later

April 27, 2004, marks one year since the Bouchard tank barge B. No. 120 ran aground and spilled approximately 55,000 gallons of Number 6 fuel oil in Buzzards Bay. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) Providence has been working with several of its partners the past year to clean up the spill and to implement changes that can help prevent a similar disaster in the future. To date, more than $40 million has been spent on cleanup efforts. 99.8 percent of the shoreline areas that were oiled as a result of the spill have been cleaned, inspected by a combined team representing federal, state, local, and responsible party representatives, and found to meet the cleanup criteria under Massachusetts state law.

09 Jun 2003

News: Buzzards Bay Spill Much Larger than Initially Reported

The Coast Guard was notified by Bouchard Transportation that the amount of oil spilled into Buzzard's Bay on April 27 was approximately 98,000 gallons, not the 14,700 gallons Bouchard had originally reported. "Obviously, the difference is significant, and like everybody else, we want to know why," said Captain Mary Landry, the coast Guard federal on scene coordinator for the spill response. For most oil spills in U.S. waters, the responsible party - in this case, Bouchard Transportation - reports to the Coast Guard how much product they think spilled from their vessel. The initial estimate of oil spilled in this case was determined on the night of the incident within the first few hours of the spill by the tankerman aboard the barge.

21 May 2003

Buzzards Bay Spill Much Larger Than Originally Reported

had originally reported. scene coordinator for the spill response. For most oil spills in U.S. waters, the responsible party – in this case, Bouchard Transportation – reports to the Coast Guard how much product they think spilled from their vessel. hours of the spill by the tankerman aboard the barge. contributed to the inaccurate reading. terminal in Sandwich, Mass., later that week. The Coast Guard determines the official amount of oil spilled during its comprehensive investigation of the incident, which is still ongoing. Coast Guard’s first priority is to minimize damage to the environment by focusing its efforts and oversight on clean up operations. approximately 4.1 million gallons, were at risk and acted accordingly.