Examples of shoreline oiling.

Remedial: Per U.S. EPA, IPC reported about 12,000 gallons were spilled and 2,000 to 5,000 gallons of recycled oil reached the Christina River and Brandywine Creek. The Coast Guard closed the Christina River in the area of the spill to all water traffic. Cleanup actions included use of skimmers, absorbent booms, collection of oily debris and other activities. Approximately 1,740 gallons of oily liquids were recovered (as of 7/21/06 when free product collection was halted). Tri-State Bird and Rescue established a rehabilitation center for oiled wildlife, collecting more than 80 oiled birds during rescue and recovery efforts.

Injury assessment: Following a survey of the Christina and Brandywine Rivers to assess impacts from the release, the natural resource trustees (Delaware, NOAA, and USFWS) met with IPC representatives to discuss the incident and potential natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) efforts. Survey findings provided a sufficient basis for initiating NRDA activities and, based on the size of the spill, that an expedited assessment using shoreline cleanup assessment team (SCAT) and trustee survey data would be the most efficient and cost-effective approach. The objectives were to achieve a timely settlement of NRDA liability to allow restoration to be implemented more quickly, and with relatively lower trustee assessment costs.

SCAT data on shoreline oiling collected on July 22 and 23, 2006 indicated that 16 miles of shoreline was exposed to oil, including ~7 miles of shoreline from the mouth of the River at the Port of Wilmington to the Route 141 Bridge and into the Brandywine River. An estimated 41 acres of shoreline was oiled and up to 74 birds were killed. Lost recreational trips from the river closure were also estimated.

This expedited assessment supported a cash settlement offer based on the funds needed to implement a wetland restoration project scaled to the losses resulting from the incident, plus trustee assessment costs.