On April 12, a sheen was reported in the vicinity of the Valdez Marine Terminal.
The source of the spill was identified as a sump located uphill from Port Valdez. Oil had seeped through the ground to reach the water.
All responders have been required to adhere to safety guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Council staff and volunteers have been monitoring the situation from a safe distance.
On May 5, the Unified Command was officially concluded. The spill is still seeping through the soils, however the flow is being intercepted and redirected to the ballast water treatment facility.
As of May 4:
- Approximately 1,350 barrels, or 56,700 gallons, of oil/water mix have been recovered.
- Crews have been measuring the ratio of oil to water to determine the spill volume, and have reported approximately 16 barrels, or 686 gallons, of crude oil have been recovered from the oil/water mix, and approximately 30 gallons of oil have been recovered from land so far.
- The total spill volume is not yet known.
More information and updates on this incident and the investigation will be posted on our website as it becomes available.
Response websites:
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation: 2020 VMT Sump Oily Water Spill
- Alyeska is providing information from the Unified Command: Alyeska Responds
For additional information, please contact Council staff.
Other resources:
Nearby weather buoys: Tracking Weather for the Safe Transportation of Oil
Learn about Spill Containment Methods (NOAA)