On 2/5/2012, the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department filed an NRC report of diesel fuel leaking from a sunken pleasure craft (34’ sailboat) in the New River. FLDEP investigated and determined that a significant amount of fuel, approximately 2200 gallons, still remained within the vessel’s tank and could release at any moment. Product that had released to the water surface was boomed to prevent further migration. The vessel was last registered in 2009 and FLDEP contacted the last known registrant, who no longer lived in the state and had no knowledge of the vessel over the latest 3 years. On 2/6/2012, FLDEP notified EPA of the pending situation; EPA issued a PRFA to FLDEP in order to hire an oil spill response company. Operations began on 2/6/2012 to remove the remaining fuel from the vessel, which will be left in place afterward.
