Diesel Spill Turns Baltimore's Harbor Red, Triggers Major Cleanup
Diesel Spill Turns Baltimore’s Harbor Red, Triggers Major Cleanup
Baltimore officials say cleanup efforts are well underway after a red-dyed diesel spill Wednesday turned the water in the Lancaster Street Canal a shocking shade of crimson. By Thursday afternoon, the canal’s water had returned to its usual murky brown, though rainbow sheens remained visible.
Roughly 18,000 gallons of water have been removed from the harbor so far, but authorities have not confirmed how much of the estimated 2,000 gallons of spilled diesel was recovered.
More than 100 personnel from the Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore’s emergency response teams, and the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed to contain the spill, which originated over a mile away at a Johns Hopkins Hospital facility on Fayette Street. Officials said a third-party contractor overfilled two diesel tanks during a routine delivery, sending fuel into storm drains that empty into the harbor.
“We are exactly where we need to be at this particular time,” said Mayor Brandon Scott during a Thursday news briefing near the South Central Avenue Bridge, where vacuum trucks were actively at work.
Crews have flushed stormwater tunnels, corralled the diesel with containment booms, and used vacuum trucks and boats to remove contaminants from the water. However, Fire Chief James Wallace warned it may take a strong rain to fully purge diesel trapped underground.
Gov. Wes Moore confirmed hundreds of gallons of diesel have been extracted. Despite progress, Central Avenue between Lancaster and Point streets remains closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.
Johns Hopkins Medicine issued a statement late Thursday, saying it was cooperating with authorities and fully committed to covering cleanup costs and mitigating environmental harm.
“This is our home, and we are fully committed to funding the cleanup and remediation efforts in the Inner Harbor, including any impacts to local wildlife,” said Kim Hoppe, vice president of public relations for Johns Hopkins Medicine. “We’re also closely reviewing the situation to understand what happened.”
Environmental officials said air quality has not been compromised, but the spill did impact local wildlife. Affected animals—including 25 geese and three turtles—are being treated by Tri-State Bird Rescue. A popular floating habitat dubbed “turtle island” was among the contaminated areas.
Blue Water Baltimore, a local nonprofit, sent its own boat to monitor the scene. Alice Volpitta, the organization’s harbor waterkeeper, reported no visible fish kills but did see diesel sheens beyond the containment area.
“The public deserves answers,” Volpitta said. “Was it negligence? A mechanical failure? Some follow-up from agencies is imperative, because we don’t always get that.”
Despite the setback, the Waterfront Partnership said it remains “cautiously optimistic” that its upcoming public Harbor swim event will not be affected.
Diesel Spill Turns Baltimore’s Harbor Red, Triggers Major Cleanup was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com
