Diesel spill on Tennessee River, USA

Problems

• The Tennessee River is one of the largest rivers in the United States, flowing through seven states and providing water, power, recreation, and habitat for millions of people and wildlife. However, several oil spill incidents have threatened this vital resource over the years, causing severe environmental damage and health risks.

• Consequences of the diesel spill in Alabama

  One of the most recent and severe oil spills occurred in July 2023, when a tugboat sank near O’Neil Bridge in Florence, Alabama, spilling between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the river. The fuel spread quickly downstream, reaching the beaches of McFarland Park, a popular area for fishing, swimming, and boating. The authorities evacuated the park and warned people to stay out of the water until further notice.
  
  The diesel spill also threatened the aquatic life in the river, especially endangered species such as the Alabama sturgeon, the snail darter, and the freshwater mussel3. Diesel is a toxic substance that can harm fish and other organisms by reducing oxygen levels, damaging gills, and causing skin irritation and organ failure. Moreover, diesel can persist in the environment for a long time, accumulating in sediments and food chains.
  
  The tugboat owner contracted a company to begin cleanup operations with the assistance of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Coast Guard. They deployed a containment boom to limit the spread of the fuel and used a vacuum truck and a drum skimmer to recover the diesel from the water surface. They also planned to raise the sunken vessel with a crane by Tuesday.
  
  However, the cleanup process was not easy or quick. The river’s high flow rate and turbidity made it difficult to efficiently contain and remove the fuel. The weather conditions also affected the operation, as rain and wind could disperse the fuel further or cause it to sink deeper into the water column. The authorities estimated it could take weeks or months to complete the cleanup and restore the river to its normal condition.

• Incidents of oil spills in the Tennessee River

  The oil spill in the Tennessee River was not an isolated incident. In fact, it was one of many oil spills that have occurred in the river system over the years. For example, in 2017, a pipeline ruptured near Decatur, Alabama, spilling about 8,000 gallons of gasoline into a creek that flows into the river. In 2014, a train carrying crude oil derailed near Knoxville, Tennessee, spilling about 5,000 gallons of oil into a river tributary. In 2008, a coal ash spill from a power plant near Kingston, Tennessee, released more than one billion gallons of toxic sludge into the river and nearby lakes.
  
  These oil spills have had lasting impacts on the environment and human health. They have contaminated water sources, killed or injured wildlife, reduced biodiversity, altered habitats, increased erosion, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. They have also exposed people to carcinogens, mutagens, endocrine disruptors, and other harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects, neurological disorders, respiratory problems, and skin diseases.