Pollution Reporting and Oil Spill Response

If you come across or personally experience an oil or fuel spill, there are several important things you should do to report it and possibly minimize the amount of product released into the environment. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of any oil product into the water that causes a film or discoloration of the surface of the water or causes a sludge or emulsion beneath the surface of the water.


Call the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 or call the National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802 to report a spill. Federal law requires the person in charge of a vessel who witnesses or sees a spill to report the spill to the NRC immediately. The Coast Guard and other oil spill response organizations can’t be everywhere or see all that might be occurring on the waterfront. Boaters are an excellent set of additional eyes that can help report oil spills and other hazardous waste incidents. Failure to report may result in the assessment of a civil penalty and/or criminal sanctions.

In the event you have an oil spill, take action to stop the source of the spill. It may be a loose cap or broken filter. Once the source is controlled, contain the spilled product. Blocking scuppers, building dikes or throwing down adsorbent pads can accomplish spill containment. Some fuel on the surface of the water can be picked up with adsorbent pads. Use a gaff or boathook to move the pads around. Avoid using detergents or soaps to cleanup a fuel spill. Once you catch your breath, contact your harbor and the Coast Guard. Properly dispose of all materials used to control the spill. Most boaters are not fined for reporting small spills, as long as they take immediate action to clean it up. The Coast Guard is more interested insuring the problem is resolved correctly and that adequate resources are in place to handle the oil spill.

Tags: Pollution Reporting Oil Spill Response