It's Official - Aleutian Oil Spill Biggest Since Exxon Valdez - Reiters

[hatrack]

ANCHORAGE - A cargo ship that ran aground, split in two and poured fuel oil into the Bering Sea in December ranks as one of the biggest spills in Alaska and the largest since the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, state environmental officials said on Thursday.

Among the reported environmental impacts of the wreck of the Malaysian-flagged Selendang Ayu, which ran aground in Alaska's Aleutian island chain, are 1,600 dead birds and oil in the plumage of bald eagles and the fur of red foxes. The US Coast Guard and other government agencies now estimate that 321,047 gallons (1.2 million litres) poured from the vessel, out of the 424,000 gallons (1.6 million litres) of intermediate-grade fuel oil and 18,000 gallons (68,000 litres) of diesel fuel on board.

"It's pretty safe to say that this is definitely the largest intermediate fuel oil spill that we've ever had," said Leslie Pearson, manager of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's emergency prevention and response program.

The 738-foot (225-metre) ship grounded after being adrift for two days in the Bering Sea. Crewmen were unable to restart the engine after shutting it down for repairs. Most crew members were evacuated shortly before the Dec. 8 grounding, but six died when a Coast Guard rescue helicopter was struck by a large wave and crashed."

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29496/story.htm

[enough]

1. Amazing how fast this story disappeared.

Thanks for bringing it back to light for us.

[hatrack]

2. I think the Peterson verdict broke at about the same time . . .

And, of course, we can now look forward to months and months of Jacko, which should serve as handy video wallpaper with which to cover up any serious stories.