By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Cleanup efforts are ongoing in Baltimore’s Harbor East after officials confirmed that the June 4 diesel spill released 5,000 gallons of fuel— more than double the amount originally reported. The leak occurred during a routine fuel delivery to Johns Hopkins Hospital and was attributed to the overfilling of two tanks.
The spill is still contained in the marina near the South Central Avenue Bridge. Officials say there has been no impact to drinking water or air quality. Still, some Baltimoreans are concerned about the potential harm to aquatic life. Donte Gunter, a 22-year-old Harbor East resident, noted that the site of the spill is home to “Turtle Island.”
“It’s been like a year now since I started walking by and noticing that there were turtles in the harbor,” said Gunter. “I’ve just been visiting them, it’s a really good sight to see. There’s hundreds of turtles over there.”
Gunter was not initially aware of the spill. But, while walking near the water on June 4, he noticed its unusual red tint— a result of the dye used in the diesel fuel.
“I didn’t think it would become this big of a problem. I had no idea what was going on with the water. Once I saw it, I did take note of it, and I thought about the turtles,” said Gunter. “But, I didn’t know what it was, so I wasn’t extremely worried. However, now I’m getting increasingly worried.”
Johns Hopkins Hospital initially reported a 200-gallon diesel spill at 11 a.m. on June 4. A couple hours later, the Baltimore City Fire Department deployed to respond to a 911 call for a fuel spill in a Harbor East marina.
By 6:48 p.m., Johns Hopkins Hospital amended its report to indicate a 2,000-gallon uncontained spill. On June 6, that number was increased to approximately 5,000 gallons.
Officials have confirmed that there will be an investigation into the spill by the Maryland Department of Environment’s Oil Control Program to determine whether the hospital will face any fines. Gunter believes the institution should face consequences if found negligent.
“I believe major businesses should be held accountable for keeping the environment healthy and in its normal state— how it was before they came here,” said Gunter. “I believe they have a duty to do that because they are such large corporations, and they can severely impact the environment if they aren’t responsible.”
Samendra Sherchan, professor of environmental health science at Morgan State University, said the diesel spill could have serious short- and long-term effects on the environment if it’s not cleaned up thoroughly.
In the immediate future, animals that were directly exposed to the contaminated water could become sick or die. Residents could also experience nausea or headaches due to the strong smell produced by the oil. In the years ahead, some of the diesel could permeate the sediment. If heavy rain disturbs it later, it could pose risks to the food chain.
“Continuous sediment testing and water quality monitoring should be conducted over the next several weeks to ensure best management practices,” said Sherchan. “Clear communication with the public is paramount to informing their strategies for successful cleanup efforts.”
Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and BCFD are collaborating with several environmental contracting companies to clean up the spill. They are using oil-absorbent materials and skimmers that feed into vacuum trucks.
As of June 5, 18,000 gallons of oil-water mixture had been pulled from the harbor. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott thanked responders for their efforts to contain and remove the spill during a press conference on June 5.
“Once again, I want to underscore our gratitude to the women and men who have worked tirelessly to address this,” said Scott. “We committed to doing this right and committed to doing it together, and that means ensuring the safety of our residents and wildlife above all else.”
