First Oil Sample Results in from Gravelly Point Spill: U.S. Coast Guard

PHOTO: Photo of Potomac River taken Friday, by Jayne Deichmeister, @DOEE_DC

Officials investigating some sort of spill in waters in and around the Potomac River received results Monday from the first oil sample recovered from the water at Gravelly Point near Arlington, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The sample contains intermediate petroleum oil with characteristics most resembling those of moderate to severely weathered fuel oil, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Additional samples taken from various locations at Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary will be processed during the next few days.

“This is one piece of information that will assist us in our investigation,” said Cmdr. Michael Keane, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. “The Coast Guard is utilizing all available assets to try to identify the source of the sheen.”

Also Monday, the Unified Command was scheduled to conduct a dye test just before 12 noon in the Potomac River and Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary near Arlington, which may have discolored portions of the river, the Coast Guard said.

As part of the ongoing investigation on the source of the oil sheen in the Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary and the Potomac River, the Coast Guard and Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality will coordinate with the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services to conduct a dye test in the stormwater conveyance system for the Roaches Run watershed.

“The purpose of the dye test is to help identify possible source areas for the sheen observed on Roaches Run and in the Potomac River,” said Cmdr. Michael Keane, incident commander. “The dye can be seen as a bright yellow or green and is non-toxic, non-staining and water-soluble.”

“The dye testing will occur this morning,” added Keane. “The testing may result in noticeably discolored water in Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary, the Roaches Run impoundment area and possibly the Potomac River. The discolored water will naturally disperse. We want to inform people in an attempt to mitigate concern by the public, who may see the dye in the water and mistake it as something else.”

Oil recovered by Coast Guard investigators was sent to the Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratory and is awaiting analysis.

Reports of impacted wildlife or oil should be made to the Office of Unified Communications by dialing 311. So far about 20 birds have been treated after getting the substance on their feathers.