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Coast Guard Races to Contain Oil Sheen on Potomac River

DC Fire and EMS helped search for the source of the sheen. Twitter: @dcfireems

The U.S. Coast Guard and Washington, D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment are responding to an oil sheen in Oxon Cove, along the Potomac River.

The first report came in on Sunday afternoon, with multiple other reports following. USCG says it appears to be coming from a storm drain outfall in Oxon Cove. Agencies have put sorbent boom and sorbent sweeps there to contain and recover the polluting substance. The agencies continue to investigate the source, and USCG will be able to access the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in order to take care of this problem.

“I am very appreciative of the federal, state and local team efforts in this unified response to mitigate and eliminate the discharge in the water,” says Captain Lonnie P. Harrison, commander, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region. 

-Meg Walburn Viviano