Vessel owner passed away in 1995. On February 16, the Environmental Coordinator for the Village Council of Ugashik confirmed the discharge of bunker fuel from the abandon barge. Spill response equipment was shipped to Ugashik on Friday, February 16 and Sunday, February 18. Sorbent materials were deployed to contain and capture fuel from the vessel. Videotape and photographs were sent to DEC and received and reviewed today.
Bunker fuel appears to be exiting out of the starboard tank through rusted out holes.
Globules of oil were observed on the mudflats of the Ugashik River. The shoreline upstream and downstream from the barge is fished heavily by set-net fishermen during the summer. In October 1996, DEC activated a cleanup contractor to remove and dispose of the oil remaining on the Windray. An estimated 450 gallons of fuel was removed. The Windray is a 130 barge, which was abandoned after it burned in the early 1950 s.