Incident Archive
The complete set of public incident records Tarline collects for the California coast, from four independent sources: NOAA IncidentNews case pages, raw National Response Center caller reports, satellite oil-signature detections, and California Spill Watch response notices. Search the text, narrow to one source, and page through the whole history.
Every row here is a source report, not a confirmed release. National Response Center entries in particular are self-reported by callers with no agency verification step, satellite detections are possible signatures rather than sampled oil, and a report saying nothing about a beach is not evidence that the beach was clean. Follow the link on a row and read the original record before citing it.
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Records
Showing 2,001 to 2,025 of 2,160 records for all sources
- IncidentNews
Propyl acetate release; Pier G, Port of Long Beach, CA 90802, USA
chemical · ID 9542 · 33.744, -118.202
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On August 6, 2017, the USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach contacted the NOAA SSC to request hazard information for a release of propyl acetate (UN/NA 1276) on the deck of the container ship MV Harbour Bridge. The ship is currently moored along southern face of Pier G. A puncture in a 20-foot ISO tank resulted in product was spilled onto the deck and some product may have entered the water. Eleven crewmembers were reportedly having difficulty breathing and one fire fighter has been sent to the hospital.
- IncidentNews
USS Posco Industries bomb threat; Pittsburg, CA 94565, USA
chemical · ID 9509 · 38.024, -121.864
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On June 8, 2017, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted NOAA ERD regarding a reported bomb threat at a local steel processing facility in Pittsburg, CA. Air plume modeling was requested in the event of a large-scale release from the facility.
- IncidentNews
Vengeance crane barge sinking; San Francisco Bay, CA
oil · ID 9468 · 37.809, -122.351
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On April 7, 2017, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted the NOAA SSC to report that a 112’ x 52’ deck barge and crane had capsized and sunk around midnight, just east of Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay. The barge and crane reportedly had roughly 4,000 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons of hydraulic fluid on-board at the time of sinking. The crane and barge had been working on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) subway tube under the Bay prior to the sinking, but BART officials have reported no known damage to the BART transit system. Sector San Francisco requested oil fate & trajectory support.
- IncidentNews
Mystery sheen / possible seep; 30 NM West of San Diego, CA
oil · ID 9456 · 32.567, -117.917
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On March 8, 2017, USCG pilots reported an oil sheen on the water’s surface roughly 35 NM due West of San Diego Bay. Observers reported seeing bubbles rising within the sheen and photos taken from the USCG helicopter suggest a nearby, submerged source. USCG requested assistance in determine the potential source including whether if might be from an uncharted natural seep.
- IncidentNews
Oroville Dam; Oroville, CA 95966, USA
other · ID 9438 · 39.538, -121.485
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On 12-FEB-2017, roughly 190,000 people were evacuated from below the Oroville dam due to high water levels within Lake Oroville and eroding emergency/auxillary spillway structure. The Oroville dam is the tallest dam in the US (770’) and impounds the second-largest man-made lake in CA. Water levels within Lake Oroville were diminishing by 13-FEB-2017, but more rain is expected in the area later in the week. No pollution events nor structural failure have yet occurred, but disaster agencies (CalOES & FEMA) have activated some of their resources.
- IncidentNews
LPG Train Derailment; El Segundo, CA 90245, USA
chemical · ID 9422 · 33.902, -118.383
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On January 12, 2017, the USCG Sector LA/LB contacted the local NOAA SSC regarding a train derailment near the intersection of Rosecrans and Douglas (East of the El Segundo Refinery). Three rail cars are known to be involved in the derailment. They are reportedly carrying LPG; however, no damage or release to air or water have been reported. El Segundo and refinery fire departments are on-scene. USCG requested air plume modeling support for a hypothetical release from each/all three rail cars in the event they are damaged during response or salvage operations.
- IncidentNews
WW-II dry dock; 34NM west of San Gregorio, CA
other · ID 9426 · 37.342, -123.112
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On October 26, 2016, the WW-II era floating dry dock (YFD70) sank while transiting under tow near the northwestern boundary of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) in the vicinity of Pioneer Canyon (max charted depth roughly 700 fathoms). The vessel reportedly did not have any fuels onboard.
- IncidentNews
WW-II Landing Craft; Rio Vista, CA
oil · ID 9405 · 38.143, -121.693
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On November 22, 2016, a WWII-era landing craft (aka “LCM”) carrying a tractor was taking on water and sinking in the vicinity of the USCG Boat Station Rio Vista on the Sacramento River. The LCM is estimated to have 120 gallons of red-dye marine diesel on board at the time of sinking and was seen actively leaking this afternoon. The tractor is believed to have 100 gallons of diesel on-board and is not known to be leaking at this time. USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to request fate & trajectory information in advance of a first-light shoreline assessment.
- IncidentNews
Tank Truck Jet Fuel Spill; Point Mugu, CA
oil · ID 9398 · 34.112, -119.082
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On Friday morning, November 18, 2016, a mobile tank truck overturned near the entrance to the Point Mugu Naval Air Station and released approximately 1,500 gallons of JP8 jet fuel onto the pavement and into a nearby creek.
- IncidentNews
Mystery spill; Western Carquinez Strait, CA, USA
oil · ID 9363 · 38.061, -122.258
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On September 20, 2016, the USCG Sector San Francisco reported sheen and petroleum odors in the vicinity of Vallejo, CA and in eastern San Pablo Bay to the California SSC. Product is currently unknown, volume is unknown, and release time & location are unknown. Initial trajectory products are being developed in anticipation of a USCG request in advance of a first light overflight.
- IncidentNews
Grounded Spirit of Sacramento; False River, San Joaquin River Delta, CA
oil · ID 9355 · 38.051, -121.630
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In the early morning hours of 04-SEP-2016, the paddle-wheeler SPIRIT OF SACRAMENTO was reportedly taking on water in False River portion of the San Joaquin River Delta. All persons on board disembarked safely, but by sunrise the vessel had capsized, grounded and was producing a light sheen. USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to request a spot weather forecast and tidal current estimates for the vessel location to support dive assessment. A trajectory may also be requested prior to fuel removal operations.
- IncidentNews
Mystery sheens; Off Moss Landing Harbor, CA
oil · ID 9321 · 36.808, -121.808
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On 20-JULY-2016, a whale watch boat operating outside Moss Landing Harbor, CA reported two mystery sheens; one was “football field-sized” and the other smaller. USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to relay the report and to request trajectory support to determine if the sheens are likely to enter Moss Landing and/or threaten nearby shorelines.
- IncidentNews
P/C Ment-2-Be adrift; Offshore of Point Sur, CA
other · ID 9313 · 36.120, -122.016
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On 01-JULY-2016, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary contacted the regional NOAA SSC to request trajectory support for a drifting vessel. The 42ft wooden Grand Banks motor yacht was adrift and abandoned near Pt. Sur, CA. The drift request is intended to assist the owner in locating the drifting vessel before it sinks or becomes grounded in the Sanctuary.
- IncidentNews
Beached whale carcass; Dockweiler Beach, LA County, CA
other · ID 9312 · 33.942, -118.444
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On 01-JULY-2016, NMFS Protected Resources Division in Long Beach, CA contacted their NOAA SSC to request trajectory support for a Humpback whale carcass beached near the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). They intend to tow the carcass offshore as soon as possible and want to know how far offshore to tow it so it does not re-beach during the upcoming holiday weekend.
- IncidentNews
Maywood Fire; Los Angeles County, CA
chemical · ID 9307 · 34.000, -118.220
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On June 28, 2016, the National Weather Service forwarded a request from LA County for modeling support for a release of magnesium due to a fire in a metals recycling plant that occurred on June 14.
- IncidentNews
Halls Canyon Pipeline; Ventura, CA
oil · ID 9303 · 34.280, -119.260
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On June 23, 2016, a fire fighting crew near Ventura, CA, reported a leaking pipeline in Halls canyon, about 3 miles from the coast near Ventura, CA. The spill was initially estimated at 5000 barrels but was later revised to 600 barrels. The oil is reportedly contained in a dry gulch and efforts are underway to build a containment berm.
- IncidentNews
M/V ULTRA LASCAR; Outside San Francisco Bay, CA
oil · ID 9280 · 37.669, -122.575
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On May 20, 2016, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted NOAA ERD to report that the 575-foot bulk carrier, the M/V UTRA LASCAR lost propulsion while inbound transiting toward San Francisco Bay. The vessel is reported to be carrying 3960 bbl of fuel oil. The bulk cargo is salt. Trajectory support was requested in the event of grounding and fuel release, but the vessel was able to anchor and tugs arrived to provide assistance.
- IncidentNews
Sheen Reports; off Bolinas, CA
oil · ID 9275 · 37.868, -122.694
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On May 8, 2016, USCG Sector San Francisco contacted the SSC to relay two separate (but nearby) sheen reports offshore of Bolinas CA. The first sheen report from a charter fishing vessel was of a 1 mile x 100 yd rainbow sheen at 0930 hrs, but no orientation description. The second report from the Tug Arthur Brusco was of a N/S oriented sheen approximately 12 NM from the earlier report and within the vessel Traffic Separation Scheme outside the entrance to San Francisco Bay. USCG requested a hindcast trajectory to determine if the two sheen reports might be related and to narrow down the potential source(s).
- IncidentNews
Floating barrel; San Francisco Bay, CA
chemical · ID 9271 · 37.811, -122.353
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On May 4, 2016, USCG Sector San Francisco called the NOAA SSC reporting a barrel floating high in the water within San Francisco Bay between Yerba Buena Island and the Port of Oakland. Sector requested trajectory support to assist in recovery operations. Barrel contents unknown.
- IncidentNews
Drifting S/V KENTUCKY WOMAN; Off Point Año Nuevo, CA
other · ID 9270 · 37.090, -123.050
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On 25-APR-2016, the S/V KENTUCKY WOMAN was reportedly taking on water 50 NM SW of the entrance to San Francisco Bay and called the USCG for assistance. The crew was rescued via USCG helicopter and the vessel was left to drift. The Monterey Bay NMS contacted the NOAA SSC requesting trajectory support to assist in locating the vessel before it sank or became grounded in the Sanctuary.
- IncidentNews
Abandoned cannery site; McAbee Beach, Monterey, CA
oil · ID 9242 · 36.615, -121.899
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On February 11, 2016, a small amount of black oil was observed leaching out of an abandoned concrete foundation into the upper intertidal along the Cannery Row shoreline in downtown Monterey, CA. Source is suspected to be an abandoned tank. Excavation of the upland site is likely to occur in the near future once tides and local storm conditions diminish.
- IncidentNews
Tarballs; Point Lobos, CA
oil · ID 9214 · 36.517, -121.950
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On the afternoon of 08-JAN-2016, USCG Sector San Francisco contacted the regional NOAA SSC to request a hindcast for tarballs that had come ashore at Point Lobos, just south of Carmel, CA. . Due to recent heavy weather in the area, USCG will have some tarballs analyzed and have requested hindcast trajectory support to help determine a likely source.
- IncidentNews
Oiled birds; Monterey Bay, CA
oil · ID 9213 · 36.810, -121.940
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On the afternoon of 05-JAN-2016, California’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response (OSPR) contacted their regional NOAA SSC indicating that chemical analyses of oiled bird samples collected in December 2015 were consistent with oil from the shipwreck SS Jacob Luckenbach. The Luckenbach had sunk in 1953, was a source of mystery spills for decades, and was the site of an underwater oil removal operation in 2002
- IncidentNews
Containers lost from M/V Manoa; 8 miles off Golden Gate, CA
other · ID 9206 · 37.720, -122.650
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On December 14, 2015, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator for California was notified by USCG of containers lost from the Matson Container Ship MANOA. On Friday, December 11, the MANOA departed the Port of Oakland bound for Seattle. While maneuvering to disembark the San Francisco based pilot, the vessel rolled in rough seas and 12 containers were believed lost overboard about 8 miles outside the Golden Gate. At least one container has washed ashore and broken open. The USCG requested NOAA assistance in tracking the remaining containers.
- IncidentNews
Manhattan Beach Incident; Los Angeles, CA
oil · ID 8939 · 33.885, -118.413
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On May 27, 2015, a National Response Center (NRC) report was generated regarding oil observations on Manhattan Beach, CA. Hindcast trajectory has been requested and analysis will begin to determine to if the incident is related to the Refugio Incident, Santa Barbara CA spill.
Ordered by the date each record reports, newest first, 25 per page. Dates are California local time.
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