ConocoPhillips and the federal and state trustees agreed to conduct a cooperative assessment of natural resource damages associated with the oil spill. Pre-assessment data collection occurred concurrent with spill response and natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) activities began shortly after the incident occurred.

Impacts were primarily limited to tidal marsh and birds. An estimated 16 linear miles of New Jersey and New York were lightly to moderately oiled, comprising a total of 23 acres. Tri-State Bird and Rescue collected fifteen dead birds attributed to the spill, primarily Canada geese, gulls, and mallards.

Assessment activities included characterizing the impacted wetland area near the spill site by collecting sediment cores, surface water samples and field oil samples. In addition, surface water and sediment samples outside the immediate spill area were collected, as well as background samples upstream and downstream of the impacted areas in the Arthur Kill. Overflights were conducted daily to monitor the movement of the oil in the Arthur Kill.