Bahamas: Exuma oil spill clean-up almost complete
Over 95 per cent of the diesel spilt near Georgetown, Exuma, on Wednesday morning has been removed from the shoreline and marine environment.
This update was provided by Director of Environmental Planning and Protection Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy.
“Progress is being made. The beach is going to remain closed until August 10, when we would conduct another assessment to determine whether or not it is safe for the public’s use. This is now the beginning [and we] expect this monitoring and remedial work to continue up to a year,” she said.
Neely-Murphy said the government is now considering its options regarding holding Sun Oil Limited responsible for clean-up efforts and other liabilities.
She was unable to give an estimate of the clean-up and environmental damage, but the courts will be responsible for making Sun Oil pick up the tab.
Sun Oil has already committed to working with the government to return the area to its former glory.
There have not been any reports of dead marine life, diesel-soaked birds or damaged grass beds.
“In that regard, we are a bit lucky that this was a very small cove and that the wave action was able to contain it in that area,” she remarked.
Neely-Murphy said 36,000 gallons of diesel was spilt during the transfer process from a Sun Oil vessel to a Bahamas Power and Light storage unit.
Sun Oil said its staff took immediate efforts to contain the diesel spill when they discovered the leak.
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