Tatitlek diesel spill may have reached Prince William Sound

January 02, 2010

by Rebecca Palsha
Saturday, January 2, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Coast Guard says a diesel spill in the village of Tatitlek may have now flowed into Prince William Sound.

Coast Guard officials say a switch on a fuel tank failed on Thursday night, spilling 600 to 700 gallons of fuel on a hill above the sound.

Officials were at the village Saturday and found the ground near the tank saturated from the spill. They say there is light seepage into nearby water, creating a light, silvery sheen in the sound.

A containment boom at the scene has stopped any further spread of the spill. Absorbent material was also placed below the tank and at a nearby creek that empties into the sound.

The Coast Guard was notified of the potential spill into the sound Friday night by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

"Based upon the report, the spill is on ground," said Petty Officer David Mosley. "So we will be working with (the DEC) to make sure it gets cleaned up correctly, and make sure there's a mitigation of any type of environmental impact."

The Coast Guard says it's possible no fuel has made it into the water, but investigators want to be sure.

Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com

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