Founded in 1988, the non-partisan Native Forest Council works through public education, national and regional media, and citizen action to protect and preserve the nation's national forests. On average, there was a spill every two days. That's 60 percent of all spills in the Sound, Navy and Coast Guard data show. Norfolk-area spills came to 36,773 gallons. The San Diego waterfront counted 33,584 gallons.
Old technology is the main problem along with complex fuel-transfer systems and human error.
The accident killed one person and injured 46. The fire occurred in the hydrocracker unit when a pipeline ruptured under excessively high operating temperatures, releasing a flammable mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The report showed that operators did not follow required emergency procedures to shut down the unit prior to the accident and management did not ensure that emergency procedures were followed. Management tolerated safety hazards and risky operator practices. The plant was operating with unreliable or malfunctioning equipment.