Smyrna River News

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientific support team has projected that tar balls and scattered patches of oil could be washing ashore at anytime along the northern Atlantic shoreline of Delaware and the southern Atlantic shoreline of New Jersey. Patches of oil have been seen from the Tacony Palymyra Bridge to south of Smyrna River on the Delaware River. Tar balls were also found yesterday in the C&D Canal in Maryland. Residents of these areas can expect to see tar balls, but not in high numbers. The ATHOS I has been temporarily moved to the Marcus Hook Anchorage. It's next destination will be a graving dock at the Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia to repair the holes in the hull.

The Unified Command continues oil clean-up and recovery efforts, but inclement weather may affect operations, delaying or halting them in some instances to ensure the safety of clean-up workers. The incident is still under investigation and the final results of that investigation are not expected to be released for several months. Over 1,700 responders are working in the command center and along the Delaware River. 130 vessels are deployed in the response effort. 35,799 gallons of oil and oily liquid and 1,817 gallons of submerged oil have been recovered. 2,008 tons of oily solids (cleanup materials and oil) have been collected. Eleven waterfront facilities have been decontaminated thus far.