Division of Spill Prevention and Response Prevention Preparedness and Response

• Date: 1 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2020

2020 Valdez Marine Terminal Admin Sump Incident

2020 VMT Admin Sump Incident Fact Sheet 13

• As of 5 a.m. Monday, approximately 788 barrels (33,096 gallons) of water/oil mix has been recovered. Crews are measuring and analyzing the composition of the recovered liquids, a process known as metering.
  • Crews have metered approximately three-quarters of those recovered emulsified liquids.
  • From those recovered volumes metered so far, approximately 12 barrels (511 gallons) of oil was recovered.
  • Metering work continues and the exact volume of oil spilled remains undetermined.
• There were no injuries or incidents reported from the overnight shift work.
• Testing of critical system piping in the area was completed through the weekend; all piping passed pressure testing and verification of its integrity. There are no other leaks in the area.
• The source of the spill, isolated and secured on April 13, was a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) small boat harbor.
• Crews continue excavation and investigation of the flow path and primary entry point where oily water is making its way into Port Valdez in the vicinity of the VMT small boat harbor. This is a rocky area near the low tide line, which indicates a flow path below ground.
  • Snow removal crews cleared an area of interest near the Oil Spill Response Building and investigation continues in the area.
  • Crews continue to excavate uphill from the building to create a potential collection point and prevent more oily water from entering the area of the VMT small boat harbor.
  • Skimmers continue making progress and overflights confirm that the impacted area is decreasing.
  • This area has been boomed since Sunday, April 12, and the boom has contained the spill almost entirely since then.
  • Excavation is also taking place at other areas on Terminal, including around the source of the spill, a sump located about a quarter-mile uphill from the VMT small boat harbor, which has been isolated and secured since Monday.
• More than 230 people are involved in the response, locally and around the state.
• Response crews continue monitoring and maintaining boom systems.
• More than 26,000 feet of boom is deployed.
• 15 Vessel of Opportunity boats are on scene; 13 Alyeska work boats are also on scene, including landing craft, inflatables, river boats and others.
• TAPS operations are not impacted, and tanker loading has continued as scheduled.
• For the safety of response personnel and the public, a Temporary Flight Restriction area remains in place, set at 5,000 feet elevation and one mile in radius over the VMT working area.

For information and updates on the response, check back to this ADEC site.