'Petroleum-Based Substance' Found in Potomac River

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Authorities are analyzing some type of “petroleum-based” spill at Roach’s Run and the Potomac River after reports started coming in from residents this week.

A 30-foot donut-shaped “noodle” type device is in place at Roach’s Run to contain the spill that is being analyzed by the DC Department of Energy & Environment, spokeswoman Julia Christian said Thursday afternoon.

“There has been some kind of a discharge at Roach’s Run,” she said.

It’s undetermined whether that spill is related to a “rainbow” sheen seen in a wider swath of the Potomac River in the past few days, she said. It’s possible that she sheen being reported by observers was caused by a quick runoff of debris mixed in with melting snow.

The National Park Service was on the scene Thursday investigating whether the spill has affected any wildlife in the area, she said.

Meanwhile the U.S. Coast Guard was also doing fly-overs of the area to determine what they can see of the spill from overhead, she said.

Tests should determine the substance found at Roach’s Run, she said.

It’s uncertain whether the spill at Roach’s Run is connected with what others also saw on the Potomac extending from north of the Reagan National Airport down to Jones Point, according to Aaron LaRocco, chief of staff, George Washington Memorial Parkway.

LaRocco said there is a coordinated effort between the National Park Service, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Coast Guard and airport authorities looking into the cause of the spill. “We don’t know what the substance is or the cause,” he said.

The City of Alexandria was looking into any potential impacts that the petroleum-based substance found upstream in the Potomac River might be having on the Alexandria waterfront, a City spokesman said Thursday afternoon.

The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) initially received a report of a “sheen” on the river, reportedly from Alexandria to almost eight miles south, the spokesman said.

On-duty crews investigated and did find some unknown product, but no source. AFD contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Hazardous Materials Response Branch, National Airport, and the DC Fire Department.

AFD’s initial investigation determined that the sheen had been reported as early as Monday at Reagan National Airport and Tuesday in DC, both upstream from Alexandria.

Although Alexandria is not the lead response jurisdiction, AFD is continuing to look for any potential impacts on the Alexandria waterfront. AFD and National Airport fireboats have been out Thursday to check waterfront locations including the airport, the power plant and the fuel docks at the City Marina, Jones Point and National Harbor.

PHOTO: Alexandria waterfront from City cameras Thursday