Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Hurricane Sandy's Surge Spills 336,000 Gallons Of Oil Into NY/NJ Waterway
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 1, 2012
Modified Nov 1, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
WNBC
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 1, 2012
Modified Nov 1, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
On top of everything else Hurricane Sandy brought to the New York region this week, what's 336,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into our waters? Guess we'll find out. During the storm's surge on Monday night the oil escaped from the Motiva oil tank facility in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and poured into the Arthur Kill that separates the Garden State from Staten Island. How exactly it got loose is not entirely clear.
The Office of Response and Restoration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that the U.S. Coast Guard "requested scientific support from NOAA's Emergency Response Division for three separate oil spills in Arthur Kill," as well as "reports of several orphan containers, and many potential hazmat targets."
But on the plus side, Coast Guard spokesman Les Tippets says a secondary tank caught most of the oil and that the liquid that escaped moved into the Arthur Kill. On top of that, two hundred responders were on scene to contain it for much of the day yesterday.
Still? This is just one of the many reasons why yesterday the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene put out an advisory saying "that direct contact with the Hudson River, East River, New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay and the Kill Van Kull for recreational activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing or any other water activity that would entail possible direct contact with the water should be avoided until further notice."
Tagged
coast guard
frankenstorm
fuel
fuel spill
hurricane sandy
motiva
new jersey
noaa
oil spill
staten island
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .