Coast Guard Investigates Persistent Oil Spills Linked to Sealed Pipe in San Juan

Image Credits: USCG

In San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, the US Coast Guard Sector San Juan is tackling an oil spill linked to a deteriorating pipeline. This issue was first spotted on april 11 during a routine patrol by Station San Juan and the Incident Management Division as part of Operation Resilient Coast,which aims to safeguard local waters.

During their patrol,officials noticed a steady leak of thick black oil seeping into the harbor from an aging pipe system situated between piers 2 and 3. The team quickly reported this incident to the National Response Center, prompting an immediate response from the Coast Guard’s Incident Management crew.

given that similar spills had occurred in this area before without clear explanations, samples of the leaked oil were collected for testing at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Lab. this proactive approach aimed to identify any connections between past incidents and this current leak.

To manage the situation effectively, they activated the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and enlisted Clean Harbor environmental Services, Inc. as their official cleanup partner. By April 15, crews from Clean Harbor successfully sealed off the leaking pipe temporarily and set up absorbent booms around the spill site to contain further spread of oil.

Image Credits: USCG

As then, both Coast Guard personnel and Clean Harbor teams have been diligently monitoring conditions at the site—regularly replacing absorbent materials and adjusting boom placements to ensure effective containment of any remaining oil in water.

On May 5th, results came back from analyses conducted by Marine Safety Lab; they revealed that samples taken near Piers 2 and 3 bore similarities to those collected during previous unexplained spills at Pier 9 in early 2024 and Pier 4 back in 2021. This suggests these incidents might share a common source—likely stemming from that same aging infrastructure.

Despite these challenges with leaks occurring nearby, operations at Piers 2 and 3 have continued without major disruption thanks to ongoing containment efforts keeping things under control. The Coast Guard has emphasized that while they’ve managed temporary containment measures effectively so far, work remains underway for a permanent solution aimed at preventing future pollution events.

A senior official within their incident Management Division mentioned collaboration with various local entities such as San Juan municipality along with federal agencies like Puerto Rico Ports Authority among others—all working together towards protecting public health alongside environmental integrity.

Additionally, plans are underway for conducting sub-surface assessments aimed at uncovering hidden sources of oil contamination. Based on what they find there will be strategies developed not only for cleaning up residual oils but also minimizing risks associated with potential future leaks.

Throughout this entire process—the Coast Guard has kept all relevant agencies updated including members of Caribbean Regional Response Team—as they strive toward restoring safety within Puerto Rico’s marine environment while ensuring no further damage occurs moving forward.

Reference: USCG