Source: Barge Morris J. Berman ran aground at Punta Escambron, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Primary Release: 800,000 gallons of fuel oil. Secondary release of between 85,000 and 125,000 gallons of an oil-water mixture occurred during refloating and towing operations. An additional 160,000 to 200,000 gallons of oil sank with the barge where it is currently in 6,123 feet of water 20 nautical miles (23 miles) north-northeast of San Juan.

Primary Injury: The trustees, in cooperation with the responsible parties and their representatives, have assessed the nature and extent of natural resource injuries to the trust resources associated with Barge Berman oil spill along the north coast of Puerto Rico.

The trustees used field observations shortly after the spill to assess potential past, present, and future injuries to ecological trust resources. The trustees have determined that the following resources have natural resource injuries:

Resources

• Surface Water - Oil affected an estimated 1,100 square miles of surface waters along the north coast of Puerto Rico, including 3.5 miles of shoreline owned and operated by the Federal Government as part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Oiled waters were a source of exposure to marine and terrestrial animals and plants.
  
• Sand Beaches and Rocky Shorelines - Approximately 103 miles of ocean shorelines and 66 miles of bay shorelines were oiled. These natural shorelines contain a mix of rock, sand, and pocket gravel beaches, and anthropogenic features such as seawalls, rip-rap, bridges, and other structures. The shorelines are used for recreation and habitat.
  
• Sediments - Much of the oil sank, contaminating seagrass beds and sediments with total petroleum hydrocarbons. Particularly high concentrations were found in the North Condado and Caribe Radisson (Escambron) lagoons.
  
• Seagrass - Approximately 40,000 square meters of seagrass in the North Condado Lagoon suffered exposure to the sunken and entrained oil. Adverse impacts included sloughing and die-off of seagrass blades, as well as mortality or displacement of encrusting biota.
  
• Reef - Approximately 10,300 square meters of reef and associated biota were injured by the vessel grounding and required response actions. Nearshore soft coral communities were injured by the oil.
  
• Invertebrates and Finfish - More than 5,600 finfish and invertebrates were recorded as killed or injured by the oil. Most of the 5,600 were invertebrates.
  
• Birds and Wildlife - Twenty-eight oiled birds were collected during the spill; 18 of those died, including an endangered brown pelican. Two juvenile green sea turtles were oiled—one died and the other was cleaned and released.

Services

• Reef - The injured reef provided habitat for fish, shellfish, corals, algae, sponges, echinoderms, and many other types of organisms. The reef and associated organisms afforded shelter, forage, breeding, and nursery grounds for marine organisms, as well as sport fishing and diving opportunities for visitors. The physical presence of the reef offered some protection to the coastline during storms.
  
• Beach - The area affected by the spill is an internationally recognized tourist destination. Miles of recreationally important beaches were oiled, affecting tourists and residents who use the beaches. The presence of oil and cleanup activities precluded swimming, sunbathing, and other beach recreation for up to three months in some heavily impacted areas. Other recreational activities, such as boating and sport fishing, were also impaired as a result of the oiling.
  
• Historic Sites - The spill area contains significant archeological and historic resources, and impacts to these resources extended from Dos Hermanos Bridge to Isla de Cabras, including Fort San Geronimo, El Escambron Battery, San Cristobal, El Morro, and El Canuelo. The presence of oil on the shorelines and waters at historic sites, as well as impaired air quality from fumes, diminished the value of recreational visits.

Note:
Information derived from Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Department of Commerce/ /National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Department of the Interior 1995. Preassessment Screen Document: Morris J. Berman Oil Spill, San Juan Puerto Rico. February 24.