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 2,101 to 2,125 of 2,160 records for all sources
- IncidentNews
San Francisco Mystery Slick; off San Francisco, CA
unknown · ID 7592 · 37.650, -122.833
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The scenario as reported to us: A Coast Guard overflight on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1325 PST reported seeing a 7 mile sheen 19 miles offshore bearing 240? T. Later that afternoon at about 1700 PST a CG vessel found two circular sheens 20 feet and 30 feet in length with some darker globules of oil within the sheens. Samples were taken at 37? 39.5' N by 122? 50.3' W. On Sunday a the M/V Clean Bay 2 was turned back from going onscene due to high winds and seas. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
CA Oiled Birds; Half Moon Bay, CA
unknown · ID 7590 · 35.883, -121.800
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MSO San Francisco notified the SSC today that approximately 25 heavily oiled common murres were found onshore between northern Monterey county and Point Reyes this weekend. Several birds were found Friday, 23NOV while approximately 20 were found yesterday, 24NOV. The largest concentration of oiled murres was found near Half Moon Bay, while at least two oiled murres were captured on the Farallon Islands. There are also reports that at least two more oiled murres were found today, somewhere between Bolinas Lagoon and Point Reyes. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
Morro Bay Ammonia Leak; Morro Bay, CA
unknown · ID 7583 · 35.366, -120.855
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The NOAA SSC was notified by MSO LALB at 0330 this morning of an anhydrous ammonia leak from a fish processor tank in Morro Bay, CA. Evidently the leak started at about 1600 on 03OCT01, when the valve was ruptured by a vehicle. The MSO reported that the local fire department was responding and planned to evacuate within a 0.5 mile radius of the area at 0700 this morning to complete the response. The MSO asked the SSC to provide information on how large a footprint the gas might make, to confirm that a 0.5 mile radius was appropriate and for some information about the behavior of this compound and health and safety concerns. USCG district 9.
- IncidentNews
Monterey Bay Mystery Tarballs; Marina, CA
unknown · ID 7579 · 36.800, -121.783
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The CA SSC was contacted Wednesday evening about scattered tarballs washing ashore along a stretch of beach in the Marina, CA area (north of Monterey). Very little detail was known at that time, such as density, distribution and potential sources. The next morning, further information from both MSO San Francisco and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) indicated that these tarballs were spread over a wide range, approximately 15 miles of shoreline from just north of Monterey up to the Pajaro River. Responders on-scene reported tarballs ranging in size from a dime to a dinner plate, fairly weathered, and concentrated in swash lines along the beach face. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
F/V Bono Grounding; Pfieffer Point, CA
unknown · ID 7578 · 36.227, -121.811
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At 0800 this morning, the NOAA SSC was notified by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff of a 45' fishing vessel aground on the rocks about 7 nm south of Pfieffer Point, on the Big Sur coast. At the time, no other information was known about the type or amount of product onboard the vessel. First light observations did indicate a rainbow sheen about 150' by 1/2 nm long in the vicinity of the vessel. USCG district 9.
- IncidentNews
F/V Vixen; Cape Mendocino, CA
unknown · ID 7573 · 40.175, -124.242
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This morning, MSO San Francisco notified the NOAA SSC of a grounded fishing vessel near Cape Mendocino, CA. The 70' F/V Vixen went aground near 40? 10.5', 124? 14.5' W at approximately 0230 this morning. She is believed to have about 700 gallons of diesel fuel and some 50-70 gallons of other oils onboard. The MSO requested trajectory and weather forecasts, as well as information on fate and effects of the spilled product. USCG district 9.
- IncidentNews
Vessel Adrift; Monterey Bay Sanctuary
unknown · ID 7572 · 36.935, -122.015
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The NOAA SSC was called this morning by the Monterey Bay Sanctuary office for scientific support in determining the trajectory of an abandonned vessel adrift in the northern part of the Sanctuary. The vessel was reported to be a 40' pleasure craft, submerged up to the wheelhouse, floating several miles offshore of Santa Cruz, CA. The two positions given were: 23JUL, 1635: 36? 56.11'N, 122? 00.87'W 23JUL, 1830: 36? 56.09'N, 122? 00.73'W USCG district 9.
- IncidentNews
Hunters Point Chemical Release; Hunters Point, CA
unknown · ID 7557 · 37.720, -122.359
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At about 1600, 18 April NOAA Hazmat was notified by MSO San Francisco of a release of potassium permanganate solution in the vicinity of the Navy Drydocks at Hunters Point, south of San Francisco. Reports were of a 150 x 15 ft bright purple plume in the water. The chemical is being injected into the ground as part of a Superfund remediation project in an area 800 to 1000 ft away from the water. It is suspected to have leached from this site. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
Drake's Beach Mystery Tarball; Drake's Bay, CA
unknown · ID 7556 · 38.025, -122.938
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Tarballs were reported along about a 9 mile stretch of beach yesterday (Tuesday, April 17th) from Point Reyes to the beaches along Drakes Bay. The tarballs averaged the size of a quarter and appeared to be fairly fresh. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV Carol; Pacifica, CA
unknown · ID 7509 · 37.076, -122.547
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Sometime on the afternoon of 08SEP00, the F/V Carol capsized approximately 2 nm off Pacifica, CA, near 37? 4.55'N, 122? 32.8'W. One crewmember reported the cause of the disruption to be a rogue wave. The vessel sank today, 09SEP00, and a visible sheen about 1nm long was observed tending from the vicinity of the vessel toward shore this morning. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV Sandra D; Cape Mendicino, CA
unknown · ID 7503 · 40.362, -124.590
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The Sandra Dee, a 63' fishing vessel carrying approximately 3,600 gallons of diesel,is afire and adrift about 9 miles off Cape Mendocino at 40? 21.7' N by 124? 35.4' W. No oil has been reported leaking from the vessel. The crew has been rescued. Onscene reports are that the vessel has not drifted very far over the last few hours despite 12 knot winds from the NW. This is believed to be the case due to the vessel dragging fishing equipment in the water. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV Leslie Lee; 9 nm off Trinidad Head, CA
unknown · ID 7494 · 41.070, -124.347
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At approximately 1330L this afternoon, MSO San Francisco was notified that the F/V Leslie Lee, a 72' steel trawler, was capsized about 9 nm off Trinidad Head, CA. The vessel could have as much as 5,000-10,000 gallons of diesel onboard. A CG overflight this afternoon verified that that vessel was still floating "upside down", with the keel exposed. Air bubbles were seen coming from the bow, which was sitting lower than the stern. A sheen was observed tending away from the vessel, about 1/2nm long x 1/4nm wide. The vessel's position at about 1330 was 41? 04.2'N, 124? 20.8'W. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV Nita H; Smudoski Beach, CA
unknown · ID 7492 · 36.800, -121.783
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On Thursday, 04MAY00, the F/V Nita H ran aground on Zmudoski beach, just north of Moss Landing Harbor. Since its initial grounding, about 5000 gallons of diesel fuel have been pumped off, another 900 gallons potentially remain onboard. Two attempts to pull the vessel off the beach have failed so far, the second time the towing hawser parted. Another towing vessel is en route from Astoria, OR and due to arrive sometime Saturday, 13MAY. Towing operations should start by Sunday evening's high tide, around 2100PDT. So far, no product has been released into the water, and the vessel remains structurally intact. Plans are to tow the vessel to a shipyard in the San Fransisco Bay once freed. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
AK FLT261 Crash; Santa Barbara Channel, CA
unknown · ID 7463 · 34.037, -119.362
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At approximately 1600 PST, today, 31 Jan. 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the waters of Santa Barbara Channel between Port Hueneme, CA and Anacapa Island west of Point Mugu. The USCG is conducting search and rescue operations. NOAA/HAZMAT is providing weather and trajectory analysis for debris. The NOAA SSC is enroute to the scene. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV ISABELLA; Pfeiffer Point, CA
unknown · ID 7454 · 37.218, -121.802
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At approximately 0100 on 06JAN00, the owner of the F/V Isabella, a 40' wooden hull boat, noticed the vessel was listing severely and had taken on quite a bit of water. The vessel is located just offshore of Pfeiffer Point, CA (37? 13.1'N, 121? 48.1' W) within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the California Sea Otter State Game Refuge. A rescue was initiated and two of the three crew members were returned to safety, the third member perished. The vessel remains in about 50' of water, approximately 200 yards offshore, partially submerged. The vessel is oriented vertically, with its bow floating just above water and the stern almost touching the bottom. An estimated 80 gallons of diesel fuel remain onboard and there have been no signs of sheening reported at this time. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
FV Paul C.; Crescent City, CA
unknown · ID 7450 · 41.688, -124.200
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At approximately 0500 PST on 15DEC99, the F/V Paul C. hit some rocks outside of Crescent City harbor. The allision occured near Steamboat Rock, at approximately 41? 41.3'N, 124? 12' W, and the vessel soon lost most of the estimated 1800 gallons of diesel onboard. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
Ballona Crk. Spill; Ballona Creek, CA
unknown · ID 7437 · 33.990, -118.412
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On the afternoon of 11OCT99, MSO Long Beach received report from the Los Angeles Fire Dept. of a possible pipeline rupture spilling crude into the Ballona Creek (inland of Marina Del Rey, CA). The discharge was estimated to be about 500 gallons. The product source was from a storm drain, rather than a pipeline, and was traced back to the parking garage of an apartment complex that maintains an oily water separator to treat natural seeps from the La Brea tarpits. The separator has been inoperable for sometime, thereby allowing the discharge of oily water into the storm drain system that leads out to Ballona Creek. The source of the leak has been secured and cleanup operations are underway. So far, about 7 miles of storm drain pipe and about 4 miles of creek are impacted. An overflight yesterday morning confirmed that no sheen or product has exited the creek. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
Dredge Stuyvesant; Humboldt Bay, California
unknown · ID 7430 · 40.767, -124.233
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At approximately 8:00pm PST the Dredge STUYVESANT notified the Coast Guard that they noticed a trailing sheen as the dredge was coming in to Humbolt Bay. A Coast Guard overflight confirmed oil coming from the barge and requested that the vessel head out to the sea buoy to assess the problem. The vessel was found to have a crack in the hull 10' below the water line on the starboard side. The vessel continued west, further out to sea, and is attempting to effect repairs at sea. The crack is in a tank which contained approximately 920 BBL of IFO-180 fuel oil. After sounding the tank it is estimated that approximately 2,000 gallons of fuel oil has been released. USCG district 11. Keyword: containment boom, endangered species, evaporation, shallow-water recovery, skimmers, smothering, sorbent boom, sorbent pompoms, vacuum trucks, volunteers.
- IncidentNews
M/V Gardenia Ace; Point Piedras Blancas, California
unknown · ID 7425 · 35.500, -123.000
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At approximately 1300 on August 12, 1999, the M/V Gardenia Ace suffered an engine room fire and lost power. The 573-foot car carrier was adrift for several hours 80 nm offshore of Point Piedras Blancas, California with 750,000 gallons of marine diesel onboard. Weather on-scene was winds from the north-northwest at 22 knots. A US Navy vessel attended on-scene and a commercial tug was sent to tow the vessel into San Francisco Bay. USCG district 11. Keyword: potential spill.
- IncidentNews
Spill off California Coast; Davenport, California
unknown · ID 7404 · 36.797, -122.008
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At approximately 1500, 06/05/99 an oil slick 80 feet wide by about 1/2 mile long was sighted by a vessel 30 nm off Davenport, California. Weather at the time of the incident was light and onshore winds. No responsible party was identified. A very light sheen of about 1/2 nm long and about 80 feet wide was formed. No coastal areas were impacted, nor was any material recovered. USCG district 11. Keyword: none.
- IncidentNews
Rosarito Facility; Rosarito Beach, Mexico
unknown · ID 7402 · 32.350, -117.067
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At approximately 1500, May 13, 1999, a tank vessel approximately 1700 meters offshore Rosarito Beach, Mexico noted an oil leak from the shore-based pipeline they were pumping to.. Weather at the time of the incident was winds at 10 knots from the south. An estimated 1000 barrels of a heavy fuel oil were released offshore.. The RP hired contractors to clean shorelines in Mexico. The USCG arranged for an overflight in Mexican airspace using a USCG helicopter. USCG district 11. Keyword: endangered species, evaporation.
- IncidentNews
Fish Boat Aground; Pillar Point, California
unknown · ID 7394 · 37.500, -122.500
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A 40-foot fishing vessel ran aground at Pillar Point, California at about 2130 hours on March 3, 1999. The vessel, estimated to have 500 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, started leaking at about 1700 hours on March 31. Weather at the time of the incident was northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. The RP hired a cleanup contractor to remove a small amount of sheen. This area is inshore of the boundaries of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Also, the James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is located in the vicinity, starting at Pillar Point and extending along the coastline north about 2 miles, and offshore about 0.5 nm. There is a boat ramp and a hoist inside Pillar Point Harbor and numerous access points. Recreational boating is common in this area, and there are several recreational beaches to the south of Pillar Point Harbor. Half Moon Bay Airport is located within a mile of the Harbor. USCG district 11. Keyword: evaporation, sorbent boom, threatened specie.
- IncidentNews
M/V HollandicConfidence; Cape Mendicino, California
unknown · ID 7391 · 40.032, -124.700
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On March 4, 1999, a bulk freighter, the M/V Hollandic Confidence, was in danger of sinking 30 miles west of Cape Mendicino, California. The ship started taking on water in her forward No. 1 cargo hold when the hatch cover was ripped open in a severe storm on Wednesday, March 3. The ship was transporting 17,135 metric tons of sulfur in four holds. In her fuel tanks were approximately 169,000 gallons of IFO and 23,000 gallons of marine grade fuel oil. The vessel steamed to San Francisco Bay with two USCG vessel escorts without losing any product. The USCG sent a helicopter and two vessels on-scene and the response lasted approximately 1 week. USCG district 11. Keyword: potential spill.
- IncidentNews
Mystery Spill off Monterey Bay; Monterey Bay, CA
unknown · ID 7343 · 36.668, -122.203
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On October 7, 1998 at 1250 PDT, a mariner reported a stripe of black oil at 36 degrees 40.08 minutes N, 122 degrees 12.17 minutes W. At 1347 PDT, a USCG overflight observer reported an oil slick extending from 36 degrees 40.08 minutes N, 122 degrees 12.17 minutes W to 36 degrees 54.2 minutes N, 122 degrees 22.3 minutes W. The air crew estimated the slick was approximately 2 feet wide and contained light brown oil that looked like "chocolate pudding". A transparent sheen was observed on both sides of the brown oil. No tarballls were reported. The aircraft altitude was 75 feet. On-scene winds were from the southwest at about 5 knots. At this time, the source of the spill is unknown. USCG district 11.
- IncidentNews
Point San Pedro Mystery Spill; San Francisco, CA
unknown · ID 7340 · 37.911, -122.402
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A Coast Guard flight notified MSO San Francisco of oil offshore, source unknown. SSC was contacted today and conducted an overflight. Oil was located offshore about 10 miles northwest of Point San Pedro. There were streamers of black oil, mousse and associated sheen. The CG has decided the oil is collectable and has contracted for cleanup. An incident command has been established. First light overflights are expected tomorrow. NOAA HAZMAT will continue to provide support as needed. USCG district 11.
Ordered by the date each record reports, newest first, 25 per page. Dates are California local time.
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