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Tanker paves over part of the Mystic River
By adamg on Fri, 06/20/2014 - 8:47am
The Coast Guard reports a tanker unloading liquid asphalt at the Exxon terminal in Everett spilled about 11,000 gallons of the stuff into the river around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday after a hose failed.
The liquid asphalt has solidified on the surface of the water. The asphalt is contained around the ship and there have been no known environmental impacts.
The Coast Guard has hired a couple of local hazardous-waste removal companies to clean up the asphalt from the Palanca Singapore.
H/t Neal.
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Comments
Has anyone walked on the water yet?
Would make a interesting video
Well...
I work in the Schrafft complex, and after reading about this, I trundled over to take a look. The water doesn't look any different (from the building at least), and there doesn't seem to be any additional or extra activity around the terminal. I'd be really surprised if they had it cleaned up already, so I'm kind of confused.
I'm surprised you haven't
I'm surprised you haven't gone down there yourself already to drool uncontrollably at the possibility of more of Metro Boston being destroyed for roadways.
Great point
If we dump enough concrete in the harbor, we can build on it and approach the Atlantan level of highway infrastructure that separates the men from the boys, on a "civic pride" level
Hate to break it to you
But a good amount of Cambridge and Boston were created from filled rivers, swamp, and ocean, including Logan Airport. It is the tradition here.
They paved the mystic river
They paved the mystic river
& put in a parking lot.
oooo bop bop bop
oooo bop bop bop
What, you've never heard
of that local activist organization called "Pave the Bay?"
Why would the Coast Guard
Why would the Coast Guard hire the clean up crew and not the company that had the hose failure?
They're on retainer and would
They're on retainer and would send the bill to the company. Source: Coastie vet
Timing
My guess would be the Coast Guard is charged with getting it done well and done right away. Later it can be determined if the company is liable for the cost. It's in the public interest is to not wait while lawyers argue over who's supposed to pay.
To answer my own question,
To answer my own question, after I figured out the broken linky.
"Exxon has contracted Clean Harbors and TMC Environmental to recover the asphalt. Coast Guard investigators are monitoring the cleanup efforts."
http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2183025/
Trust me...
They'll pay. Or at least someone other than the tax payers will. I coordinate pollution response for the Coast Guard in the Boston area.
Still probably better to drive on
than Beacham St.
That street's condition is a
That street's condition is a disgrace to modern civilization. With all the commerce that rolls over that street, you think super # 1 top shelf hot top would be put down , deeply and often. And I am not buying that it would become a speedway short cut if it were done over smooth, the whole north shore is a speedway today.
http://youtu.be/Gy_aahkIdEI. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
And don't get me started on bikes
While I love my car, I would also love to, yet refuse to, bike to work. Because that deathtrap of a road is my only option, and the fact that I'd have to physically climb out of anything I fell into is less than appealing.
That road is of critical
That road is of critical importance to the New England economy, since most of our gasoline comes from there.
Since Everett is unable to maintain it, the state should make it a priority.
Produce too , and road rock
Produce too , and road rock salt !
Chelsea, too
Most of the worst conditions are on the Everett side, but the Chelsea section isn't much fun to ride on, either.
I *do* bike on this road, but slow way down, especially at night. Riding it at my usual 12 mph would be just asking for trouble.
Not A Speedway, But Beacham Street Is Toll-Free
Beachham Street is deliberately kept in a deplorable state of disrepair because it's the shortest route from East Boston, Chelsea, and the North Shore, that bypasses the exorbitant tolls on the Tobin Bridge, and the Sumner and Frozen Head tunnels. It's as simple as that.
Eventually, after they install a toll gantry on the Malden Bridge into Boston (Route 99), perhaps Beacham Street will get a coat of asphalt.
Facts
Facts are:
The company is required by federal law to have contracts with oil spill response companies for this type of situation and therefore the company hired the contractors, not the Coast Guard.
Asphalt is transferred at a temp. between 300 and 400 degrees, therefore upon contact with the water it solidified very quickly preventing a major spread and limiting environmental impact. This is why it wasn't visible from any sort of distance.
95% of the asphalt was pulled off the top of the water overnight, so don't expect to go down there and see much that looks unusual.
True...
...but the Coast guard does maintain relationships (Basic Ordering Agreements) with local companies and will hire those companies to engage in clean up operations if need be.
PALANCA SINGAPORE
Vessel named "PALANCA SINGAPORE", registered with IMO number 9492361 and MMSI 538005036 is tanker. She is currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. She was built in 2013.
http://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/PALANCA-SINGAPORE-IMO-9492361-MMSI-5...
Glad it wasnt the Asphalt Seminole
http://tugster.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/aaaasm5.jpg?w=490