Tow Boat Operator Admits To Diesel Fuel Spill In Arthur Kill

BAYONNE, NJ — The chief engineer of a tug boat admitted in federal court Wednesday to negligently discharging hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel into the Arthur Kill, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.

The Arthur Kill runs along the Woodbridge waterfront.

Michael Brown, 67, of Kingston, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Clean Water Act.

Federal prosecutors say this happened in 2016 and he discharged the diesel fuel while refueling the tow boat at the International Matex Tank Terminal’s Mobil Pier in Bayonne.

Prosecutors say it appeared to be an accident, but it was still negligent.

"On Sept. 12, 2016, Brown failed to exercise due care in conducting the transfer of fuel oil to the tow boat, resulting in the discharge of hundreds of gallons of fuel oil into the Kill Van Kull," they said.

Brown also admitted that when he was later questioned by the U.S. Coast Guard on the incident, he failed to disclose that the origin of the spill was his towing vessel.

The Clean Water Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, makes it a crime for a person to negligently discharge oil into or upon the navigable waters of the United States in such quantities as may be harmful.

Brown agreed to pay a fine of $4,000 to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.