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| Coast Guard to dye storm water system in search of oil spill source | Coast Guard to dye storm water system in search of oil spill source |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Officials plan Monday to conduct a dye test in a northern Virginia waterfowl sanctuary and the Potomac River seeking the source of an oil spill that has leaked into the waters for the past five days. | Officials plan Monday to conduct a dye test in a northern Virginia waterfowl sanctuary and the Potomac River seeking the source of an oil spill that has leaked into the waters for the past five days. |
| The dye is nontoxic, non-staining and will naturally disperse, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Michael Keane, the incident commander of the multi-agency response team. | The dye is nontoxic, non-staining and will naturally disperse, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Michael Keane, the incident commander of the multi-agency response team. |
| The U.S. Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services said in a press release that they will drop dye into storm water drainage systems, which might result in bright yellow or green runoff into the Roaches Run sanctuary and the Potomac. | The U.S. Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services said in a press release that they will drop dye into storm water drainage systems, which might result in bright yellow or green runoff into the Roaches Run sanctuary and the Potomac. |
| “We want to inform people in an attempt to mitigate concern by the public, who may see the dye in the water and mistake it as something else,” he said in a statement. | “We want to inform people in an attempt to mitigate concern by the public, who may see the dye in the water and mistake it as something else,” he said in a statement. |
| The agencies, along with the District’s Department of Energy and the Environment, have been trying to identify the source, size and composition of the oil first spotted in the river late Wednesday. | The agencies, along with the District’s Department of Energy and the Environment, have been trying to identify the source, size and composition of the oil first spotted in the river late Wednesday. |
| [Environmental groups, residents express concern about oil in Potomac] | [Environmental groups, residents express concern about oil in Potomac] |
| Several flyovers late last week led the Coast Guard to believe that the oil sheen — which extends from Roaches Run to the area around the Woodrow Wilson Bridge — was dissipating. But early Sunday, a field team found a possible new source of the oil at the 6th Street storm water drainage into the wildlife sanctuary. | Several flyovers late last week led the Coast Guard to believe that the oil sheen — which extends from Roaches Run to the area around the Woodrow Wilson Bridge — was dissipating. But early Sunday, a field team found a possible new source of the oil at the 6th Street storm water drainage into the wildlife sanctuary. |
| The Virginia environmental agency said manholes just upstream of that outfall showed no oil emulsion or sheen. | The Virginia environmental agency said manholes just upstream of that outfall showed no oil emulsion or sheen. |
| Samples of the oil, taken from the Roaches Run tidal lagoon, have been sent to a Coast Guard laboratory for testing and identification. The oil is being compared to a sample from the Dominion Virginia Power substation, which had a 13,500-gallon mineral oil spill Jan. 24. | |
| Dominion has said there’s no evidence the more recent oil spill came from their facilities, but the utility is cooperating. | Dominion has said there’s no evidence the more recent oil spill came from their facilities, but the utility is cooperating. |
| The oil runoff is not expected to have any health effects on humans, the Coast Guard said, but 18 oil-covered geese have been found and captured by a bird rescue organization. One has died and eight others have recovered. | The oil runoff is not expected to have any health effects on humans, the Coast Guard said, but 18 oil-covered geese have been found and captured by a bird rescue organization. One has died and eight others have recovered. |
| A mallard duck with oil-covered feathers also was found at Constitution Gardens in Washington. “Efforts are on-going to capture several more oiled geese in the vicinity of Reagan Airport and Haines Point golf course,” the Virginia agency reported. | A mallard duck with oil-covered feathers also was found at Constitution Gardens in Washington. “Efforts are on-going to capture several more oiled geese in the vicinity of Reagan Airport and Haines Point golf course,” the Virginia agency reported. |
| Environmental organizations have expressed concern that the oil, which the agencies said is being contained by booms and absorbent pads, may be overtopping the barriers and continuing to leak into the Potomac. | Environmental organizations have expressed concern that the oil, which the agencies said is being contained by booms and absorbent pads, may be overtopping the barriers and continuing to leak into the Potomac. |