News

Sound Rivers was on the scene at Oriental Harbor last week, investigating reports of a second fuel spill in the marina.

“I got the report from (Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz) on Friday, and she had gotten the report from someone in the community,” said Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop. “Emily was able to go out to the site and take a look and get some photos and we were able to identify what appeared to be an oil sheen on the water.”

The rainbow sheen on the surface of the harbor — viewable from the town dock — prompted Samantha to report the spill to authorities.

“It was the same location as the spill that happened in November and appeared to be coming from a vessel on the Fulcher’s Point Price Seafood side of the harbor,” Samantha said. “That spill in November is still under investigation by the Coast Guard. Because that’s an open investigation, we don’t get any information on it, but this spill seems very similar to that one.”

Samantha called it in to the National Response Center, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the local Coast Guard office.

“They did not go out to investigate,” Samantha said. “Unfortunately, these sorts of fuel spills are fickle, so by the time Emily even got to it, it was already starting to dissipate. And that highlights one of the problems with our spill response — bad actors aren’t being held accountable. The Coast Guard can issue penalties, but they need to be able to see the evidence before it disappears.”

Samantha said she’s broached the subject of building a more local spill response with Coast Guard officials.

“The Coast Guard is willing to talk to us and the Town of Oriental about what a partnership response would look like,” she said. “We’re looking forward to working with the town, and, potentially, the Coast Guard, on this issue.”

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