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Press Release | June 5, 2025

Coast Guard responds to diesel spill on Patapsco River in Maryland

BALTIMORE — Crews from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region are responding to a diesel fuel spill near the East Harbor Marina in the Patapsco River, Thursday morning.


At approximately 2 p.m., Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region watchstanders received a report from Baltimore City Fire stating a sheen had been observed and Baltimore City Hazmat had deployed temporary containment boom. 


Watchstanders immediately began coordination with state and local partners, including the Maryland Department of the Environment, and dispatched crews to the scene to conduct initial assessments and investigate an outfall near Harbor East Marina.



Officials have preliminarily identified the source of the spill as a Johns Hopkins Hospital pipeline at 1780 East Fayette Street, roughly 1.3 miles from the site of the leak.


The spill is contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor East, in an area roughly 100 x 250 yards. Qualified pollution response contractors have been hired to conduct containment, recovery, and cleanup operations. 

Responders have deployed pollution response equipment, including containment boom, and are actively working to remove all recoverable product from the waterway. Coast Guard personnel remain on scene monitoring cleanup activities to ensure compliance with federal environmental response standards and adequate protection of the environment.


The Coast Guard is overseeing cleanup efforts and is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue to monitor any wildlife impacted. Containment and cleanup efforts will continue through the night.


- USCG -


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