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CBS News
6 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Fuel spill into Baltimore's harbor creates long-term environmental concerns
Crews worked around the clock to clean up 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel that dyed the water red near Harbor East and had environmental groups concerned about long-term impacts. Crews worked around the clock to clean up 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel that dyed water near Harbor East red and had environmental groups concerned about long -term impacts. CBS News Baltimore The spill began more than a mile away on the Johns Hopkins Hospital campus on Fayette Street near Broadway. The spill began more than a mile away on the Johns Hopkins Hospital campus on Fayette Street near Broadway. CBS News Baltimore When tanks for emergency generators were overfilled, the diesel went into the stormwater system and drained into the Patapsco River. "Unfortunately, this is something we deal with because of our underground pipe infrastructure that basically treats our streets as our streams," said Alice Volpitta, from the non-profit Blue Water Baltimore. "And by that, I mean anything that spills on our streets goes right into our streams without being treated." Blue Water Baltimore's boat was already scheduled to do routine water quality monitoring the day of the spill. "We were able to leverage that opportunity to take our boat out and try to see if there's any impact from this fuel spill," Volpitta said. Volpitta said it is crucial to get to the bottom of what happened. "Was there something that went wrong mechanically or potentially as a result of user error in the refueling process? That's something we don't know yet, but if there aren't already, there ought to be stricter regulations in place to make sure spills like this don't happen," Volpitta said. "We just don't know exactly where it went wrong." Volpitta added, "The regulatory agencies need to get a handle on the full extent of the spill, but also what happened at Johns Hopkins Hospital to allow this spill to occur." Past fuel spills While 2,000 gallons is larger than many recent spills, it happens more often than you may realize. Last year, 500 gallons of fuel spilled after a boat fire in Canton. The year before, Harbor East waters were again dyed red from a diesel spill. In 2017, a truck carrying diesel overturned on the JFX, spilling fuel into the Jones Falls, which headed to the harbor. Environmental concerns A fuel spill into Baltimore's harbor can bring about many environmental concerns, including for wildlife. "Diesel is lighter than crude oil and evaporates more quickly, but I think it can seep into mud or marshy areas, and some of it may sink below the surface, so it's very important to remediate it as soon as possible," said Dr. Sam Sherchan, a biologist at Morgan State University. Sherchan noted that the quick use of pumps and absorbent material is crucial. "They act like paper towels where they soak up the diesel, and the skimmers they're using are mechanical devices that skim the diesel off the water," Dr. Sherchan said. Sherchan has concerns about the long-term environmental impact. The DNR has already worked to clean wildlife. He has concerns about the long-term environmental impact. The DNR has already worked to clean wildlife. CBS News Baltimore "The contaminated mud, when it gets stirred up again it can become toxic to wildlife," Sherchan said. "Animals that come into contact with the water may become sick and die. In the long term, we want to see continuous monitoring of water and air to make sure that it's safe." Harbor Splash Two weeks ago, athlete Katie Pumphrey swam in the Inner Harbor. Two weeks ago, athlete Katie Pumphrey swam in the Inner Harbor. CBS News Baltimore The next public Harbor Splash event is scheduled in just 15 days. It aims to showcase progress in cleaning up waterways that could now be in jeopardy. "These types of episodic pollution incidents are just part of the unique set of challenges facing urban waterways," Volpitta said.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Clean-up underway after 2,000 gallons of fuel spill in Baltimore Harbor from leak at Johns Hopkins Hospital
A massive clean-up is underway after 2,000 gallons of fuel spilled into Baltimore Harbor from overflowing diesel tanks at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Maryland officials say a hospital pipeline is the cause of the leak, according to a statement from Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Johns Hopkins Hospital first reported a 200-gallon diesel fuel spill at its East Baltimore facility Wednesday morning, but several hours later, first responders received a call about a much larger spill at a marina over a mile away. Following a response from state and local officials, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, officials determined that approximately 2,000 gallons had spilled, officials said. More than 100 people across 10 city and state agencies worked through the night to ensure the situation was under control, with clean-up efforts being overseen by the Coast Guard, Moore said during a Thursday news conference. Crews are using absorbent materials and skimmers to guide the spilled fuel into a 4,000-gallon pump truck, The Baltimore Banner reported. While 600 feet of harbor boom has been deployed, the clean-up efforts will likely last at least through Thursday. Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said crews have located where they believe the leak occurred and are working to flush out the storm drain system. 'What's important is we need to push the product down, push it down to the harbor, where we have skimmers, where we have capability to capture and retain product,' he said. In a statement to The Washington Post, Kim Hoppe, the vice president of public relations, said the spill occurred when two diesel tanks that supply power for the hospital's backup generators accidentally overfilled, causing an overflow. The spill, which has been contained to an area roughly 100 by 250 yards, appears a reddish color due to dye in the diesel fuel, the Maryland Department of the Environment said on X. Officials added that the drinking water in the area has not been impacted. The Coast Guard is investigating the spill.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cleanup underway after 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaks into Baltimore's harbor
BALTIMORE (WDCW) — Emergency crews in Baltimore are working to clean up roughly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel that leaked into the harbor on Wednesday. Maryland officials said the spill started around 11 a.m. local time, when fuel began leaking from the Johns Hopkins Hospital's facility in East Baltimore. Prosecutors: 2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after robbery were ex-military Nearly two hours later, the Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to a marina in Harbor East. While investigating the spill, officials learned that the fuel began leaking into the marina from the facility, which was about 1.3 miles away. As of Wednesday afternoon, the spill was contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge. The Maryland Department of the Environment said the water affected by the spill had been tinged red because of the dye in the oil. Officials added that the leak would not impact drinking water in the area. Officials said the U.S. Coast Guard and a private contractor are working to clear the oil from the water by using oil absorbent materials and skimmers that will feed into a 4,000-gallon pump truck. Pop singer reveals breast cancer diagnosis: 'Sucks' During a press conference Thursday morning, officials said several geese were also removed from the water and taken to a wildlife rehab center. 'This has been a robust and truly collective effort. We have now seen 10 different city and state agencies that have been deployed,' said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Local leaders also said traffic would likely be disrupted amid the cleanup efforts. 'We are going to do everything in our power to restore the area as quickly as possible without compromising public safety,' said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. It's unclear if any fines or penalties will be issued as a result of the spill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cleanup underway after 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaks in Baltimore marina
BALTIMORE, Md. () — Emergency crews in Baltimore are working to clean up a spill after about 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked in Harbor East. Maryland officials said the incident happened around 11 a.m. on June 4, when fuel began leaking from the Johns Hopkins Hospital's facility in East Baltimore. Nearly two hours later, the Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to a marina in Harbor East. While investigating the spill, officials learned that the fuel began leaking into the marina from the facility, which was about 1.3 miles away. Around 100 firefighters respond to Northwest DC house fire As of Wednesday afternoon, the spill was contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge. The Maryland Department of the Environment said the water was stained red because of the dye in the oil. Officials noted that it will not impact drinking water in the area. More than 10 agencies across Maryland have been called to help contain the spill. Officials said the U.S. Coast Guard and a private contractor are working to clear the oil from the water by using oil absorbent materials and skimmers that will feed into a 4,000-gallon pump truck. During a press conference on Thursday morning, officials said several geese were removed from the water and taken to a wildlife rehab center. 'We are going to do everything in our power to restore the area as quickly as possible without compromising public safety,' said Mayor Scott. As cleanup efforts continue, traffic will be disrupted, and Central Avenue to Fleet Street will be closed. Check for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
About 2,000 gallons of diesel spills in Baltimore waterfront, US officials say
About 2,000 gallons of diesel spills in Baltimore waterfront, US officials say A 2,000-gallon diesel spill that originated at a hospital facility in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday tainted a waterfront in a popular tourist spot in the city, but there was no impact on drinking water in the area, officials said on Thursday. The spill originated from a Johns Hopkins Hospital facility near the marina and was initially estimated at only 100 gallons, the office of Maryland Governor Wes Moore said in a statement. The spill has been contained in the marina in Harbor East, an area roughly 100 by 250 yards, the statement added. Moore's office said that the water in the area had turned red due to dye in the diesel fuel, and that the U.S. Coast Guard was working with a contractor on cleanup efforts. "My team and I are currently onsite at Fells Point, where there's been an oil spill of unknown origins," Moore said in a post on X earlier on Wednesday, before the origin of the spill was identified. Fells Point is a historic, waterfront neighborhood in the city. Johns Hopkins Hospital was engaged in response, according to the governor's statement. The hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
