A major oil spill in Galveston Bay Texas could have significant effects on wildlife. The spill resulted from a vessel collision, known as the Texas City “Y” incident, which occurred in the Houston Ship Channel on the afternoon of Saturday, March 22, 2014.
The maximum capacity of the breached tank is 168,000 gallons of marine fuel oil. The amount of released product was still being assessed as of Sunday.
The incident response is being coordinated by a unified command, which consists of a wide variety of federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations and the owners of the damaged barge, Kirby Inland Marine. Coordinating agencies include the United States Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, and Galveston County Office of Emergency Management.
Other agencies participating in the response include U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Galveston City Office of Emergency Management, Texas City Office of Emergency Management, and the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health.
Wildlife Response Services, a Texas-based wildlife rehabilitation service has also been deployed to assist with any impacted birds or marine life. Persons who observe any impacted wildlife are urged to call 888-384-2000.
Galveston Bay Oil Spill Links
http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2126930/Update-Texas-City-Y-collision-#sthash.eSvlZ45r.dpuf
http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2126958/Update-2-Texas-City-Y-incident-response-#sthash.j6VkfPcP.dpuf
http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2127174/#sthash.CnJbGoNP.dpuf
source: United States Coast Guard