Fort Sumter Oil Spill

CHARLESTON HARBOR, SC -- On the afternoon of October 1, the Charleston office of the Coast Guard contacted park headquarters to report that an apparently minor oil spill that occurred in Charleston Harbor the previous evening had grown significantly. Since the spill threatened park resources at Fort Sumter and on Sullivan's Island, the Coast Guard issued authorization to the Department of the Interior to participate in the spill management. Over the course of the next two days, it became evident that the spill was much larger than first estimated. As of October 4, the spill estimate had grown from 1,000 to possibly 2,500 gallons of number 6 oil. Although the spill has primarily contaminated state-owned areas of marsh grass and exhibited a sheen on the water in the Charleston Harbor area, the impact to the park has been relatively minor. Some contamination has occurred at the Fort Sumter beach and the cove at Sullivan's Island, and the park's Boston Whaler was damaged by the oil. As of October 4, much of the oil had flowed out of the harbor or been removed by the strike team and contractors. Park staff will continue to monitor area waters for possible further contamination. The Coast Guard has not yet identified the responsible party.

-NPS-

For Immediate Release: October 7, 2002
Contact(s): Bill Martin, Public Information Officer, FOSU