the film forum library tutorial contact

Cofferdam Corrals Leaking Barge's Pollution by Staff KPTV, April 19, 2011

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A cofferdam now surrounds the Davy Crockett, the leaky, half-sunken barge that is being dismantled and removed after dumping gallons of oil into the Columbia River.

The Coast Guard built the cofferdam around the vessel so its pollutants will be contained while the deconstruction takes place.

The Davy Crockett was discovered to be leaking fuel into the river after an oil sheen was spotted as far as 15 miles downstream from its location between Vancouver and Camas, four miles upstream of the Interstate 205 Bridge. It started leaking oil because of improper and unpermitted salvage operations, authorities say.

The Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are jointly managing the response and salvage effort.

Related Pages:
Columbia River Tar Balls Likely from Barge by Associated Press, Seattle Times, 3/10/11
Here is a Willful, Negligent Polluter by Editorial Board, The Daily Astorian, 2/8/11
Davy Crockett One of Many Dilapidated Vessels on the Columbia by Kristian Foden-Vencil, Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2/3/11
1,200 Gallons of Oil Recovered from Derelict Barge by Associated Press, KVAL, 1/31/11
Authorities Work to Contain Oil Sheen on Columbia near Camas by Lara Takenaga, The Oregonian, 1/27/11
Derelict Vessel's Structural Problems Complicate Cleanup by Mark Bowder, The Columbian, 1/29/11
USCG Respond to Pollution Threat from Derelict Vessel by 13th USCG District, The Maritime Executive, 1/26/11