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Fuel Oil Spill Fouls Peterson Bay At Voyageurs National Park

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Published Date

June 23, 2018

Fifteen-to-twenty gallons of fuel oil were spilled on the north side of Peterson Bay in Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, but notification came too late to fully contain the pollutant.

Park staff were notified shortly before 1 p.m. Friday of the spill, which occurred at a private residence during a fuel oil delivery. By 1:30 p.m., some 130 feet of fuel containment boom and 200 fuel spill absorbent pads were deployed around the spill area.

The U.S Coast Guard Response Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Kabetogama Fire Department, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency were all notified of the spill. 

Due to the fuel oil being diluted and dispersed, containment efforts were not fully successful as fuel oil spread out beyond the boom.  At 9:04 p.m., the park received reports that fuel was along the beach on the south side of Peterson Bay.  Rangers responded and found that there was an oily sheen along the southern shoreline.  The second report was also reported to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and a Saint Louis County Deputy Sheriff also responded to Kabetogama. 

As of Saturday morning, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency had advised park staff that evaporation was the best option for dealing with the spill, as there was no way to siphon or soak up the diluted fuel off the water surface. 

Park staff is monitoring the spill's movement, and the boom will stay in place until Monday morning to allow for evaporation to occur.  Local businesses and contractors who dispense fuel should have fuel containment supplies on hand and containment plans in place prior to spills, according to park staff.

Rangers were working to contact area residents and businesses to advise them of the incident, and continue to investigate.

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