At least one person was injured Thursday morning when a fire truck and another vehicle collided in Madison, Ohio

By Andy Long 
Published: September 3, 2015

 


MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) — 

At least one person was injured Thursday morning when a fire truck and another vehicle collided.

The crash happened shortly after 11 a.m. on Groveport Road east of Lithopolis Road.

Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert said the fire engine was responding to a gas leak in the area, and had its lights and sirens on. A silver car headed toward the truck has stopped. A blue SUV behind the silver car did not stop in time, went left of center to avoid the silver car, and struck the fire truck head on.

A fire lieutenant riding in the passenger seat hurt his back and was transported to the hospital. He has been released. Two people in the SUV were also taken to the hospital with precautionary injuries.

Madison Township Fire Chief Robert Bates said the firefighters involved in the crash got out of the mangled truck and helped tend to the injured people in their truck and both vehicles.

1 boat driver dead in boat flipping on Mississippi River in Champlin, MN

Champlin Water Emergency
Jay Knoll, 10:20 p.m. EDT September 3, 2015



(Photo: KARE)

CHAMPLIN, Minn - One man has died following a boat accident on the Mississippi River in Champlin.

Lt. Kent Vnuk of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened just before 4 p.m. Thursday near Mississippi Point Park. He says witnesses had pulled the driver to shore and started CPR, but efforts to revive the man were unsuccessful. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the name of the person killed in the crash as well as an official cause of death. SKY 11 footage shows a boat flipped over and debris in the water.

Investigators will work to reconstruct the crash scene in the coming days. Champlin Police, Anoka-Champlin Fire and a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter also responded to the scene.


At least two people were injured in a boat accident on the Mississippi River in Champlin Thursday afternoon. (Photo: KARE 11)

Water Patrol towing the flipped boat to shore (Photo: KARE 11)

2 injured after a U.S. Coast Guard Cessna 1978 R172K Hawk XP plane crashes into trees in Cresskill, New Jersey

2 injured after small U.S. Coast Guard plane crashes into trees in Cresskill, NJ

1978 Cessna R172K Hawk XP planes similar to the one that crashed


Shannon Sohn is above the scene in NewsCopter7. (Photo courtesy Instagram user @LoveKpFs)




Thursday, September 03, 2015 06:40PM
CRESSKILL, N.J. (WABC) -- A small plane with the U.S. Coast Coast Guard crash landed in Bergen County, New Jersey, injuring the two people on board.

It happened just before 5 p.m. Thursday at Regan Field right behind the Cresskill Community Center at 100 3rd Street.

The FAA said a small plane, Cessna 172, had a crash landing into trees in Cresskill.

The U.S. Coast Guard said this plane was an Auxiliary Aircraft flown by USCG volunteers. It was on official business for the Coast Guard, taking a survey of the Hudson River. Two people were on board and were injured, but both are expected to survive.

The plane took off at about 4:30 p.m. out of Linden Airport in New Jersey.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department posted this photo on Twitter:


And Instagram user @LoveKpFs posted this video:


Radio traffic indicated that the plane was having engine failure and was trying to make it to Teterboro Airport, but it did not make it.

One man was taken from the plane on a stretcher. It appeared that he was moving. NewsCopter 7 captured video of the rescue efforts:


This is a wide view of the scene from NewsCopter 7:


Stay with abc7NY for the latest on this developing story.   

Date:	03-SEP-2015
Time:	16:43
Type:	Cessna R172K Hawk XP
Owner/operator:	Black Sheep Aviation LLC
Registration:	N758DK
C/n / msn:	R1723011
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Substantial
Location:	Bergen County, Cresskill, New Jersey -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Following a loss of engine power, the aircraft force landed to open field terrain in Cresskill, New Jersey. The airplane came to rest upright in surrounding trees, sustaining substantial damage. The two occupants onboard the aircraft received undetermined injuries. Sources: 
http://abc7ny.com/news/2-injured-after-small-uscg-plane-crashes-into-trees-in-nj/968860/
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179253 http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2015/09/small_plane_crash_lands_in_bergen_county_reports_say.html
http://nypost.com/2015/09/03/small-plane-crash-lands-in-new-jersey-field/

Repsol Exploration and Production USA Inc. settles with EPA for Clean Water Act violations at North Slope Alaska Spill

Repsol Exploration and Production USA Inc. settles with EPA for Clean Water Act violations at North Slope Alaska Spill

Release Date: 09/03/2015
Contact Information: Jeff Philip, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-1465, philip.jeff@epa.gov

(Seattle – September 3, 2015) Repsol E&P USA, Inc. agreed to pay a penalty for alleged Clean Water Act violations at an oil exploration well pad on the North Slope, Alaska. According to a settlement announced on August 26 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company’s exploration well drilling equipment leaked well testing fluids onto the frozen, snow-covered arctic tundra in April of 2013.

On April 9, 2013, a hose ruptured at Qugruk Well Pad #6, on the Colville River Delta. Well testing fluids from the ruptured hose were mostly collected in a secondary containment system. Up to 500 gallons of fluid sprayed beyond the containment area, and covered over an acre of frozen, snow-covered tundra. Within four days, the company completed a cleanup of the most impacted contaminated snow. Repsol agreed to pay a penalty of $30,500 to settle the allegations.

The company is an American subsidiary of the Spanish Repsol S.A.

"Preventative measures to protect sensitive ecosystems like the arctic tundra are very important to keep pollutants out of the environment and away from people," said Jeff KenKnight, manager of EPA’s Clean Water Act Compliance Unit in Seattle. "Holding companies accountable when they pollute the environment ensures that everyone is treated fairly, and promotes the use of precautionary spill prevention procedures."

Worried your company could wind up on OSHA’s annual list? Here are four ways to prepare for an upcoming inspection

4 ways to prepare for an OSHA inspection

Parker Rains, For The Tennessean September 3, 2015

Each year, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects workplaces around the country for safety and occupational hazards.

Unprogrammed, or unscheduled, inspections are top priority for OSHA and usually come in response to a complaint, workplace violation or specific incident that requires immediate attention. These inspections can be prompted by employee grievances, referrals from other government agencies or, most commonly, injuries serious enough to send employees to the hospital. Follow-up inspections also fall in the unprogrammed category.

Programmed, or scheduled, OSHA inspections occur periodically and are reserved for employers that have the highest rate of injuries and illnesses in their industry. Each year, OSHA puts out a list of the top 10,000 to 15,000 offenders who will be scheduled for a programmed inspection.

To determine which companies are on the targeted list, OSHA uses the DART — Days Away, Restricted or Transferred — rate. The formula to calculate your organization’s DART rate is (N/EH) x 200,000, where “N” is equal to the number of cases involving days away from work, restricted work activity or job transfers and “EH” is the total number of hours worked by all employees in the calendar year. The average DART rate is around 1.8. Companies with a rate of 2.5 or higher are usually listed on OSHA’s inspection list, though this rate can vary depending on the industry and how dangerous or accident-prone it is.

Worried your company could wind up on OSHA’s annual list? Here are four ways to prepare for an upcoming inspection:

1. Create an inspection team. Assign key team members to a designated “inspection team.” These individuals will be responsible for helping the rest of the company prepare and for managing the inspection once the OSHA representative is on site.

2. Educate your team. Programmed OSHA inspections are composed of a full company review, an audit of company documents and interviews with both management and non-management employees. Communicate with your team about the potential inspection and educate them on what is involved. Some insurance companies provide free consultation on OSHA preparedness and can send a representative to train managers and team members who would be involved in the inspection.

3. Organize your OSHA 300 logs. Update your company’s OSHA 300 logs, records of all work-related injuries and illnesses, on a regular basis. This should happen long before you even suspect than an OSHA inspection is a threat. Understand what should be recorded and train employees to provide detailed and accurate information on each report. These forms should be organized and easily accessible.

4. Hold a mock inspection. Conduct semi-regular mock inspections on your own to identify potential health and safety issues that an OSHA inspector would find. In doing so, your company can correct any major issues long before the programmed inspection. This proactive approach will also help your company manage workplace hazards in future years, removing the need for an OSHA inspection entirely.

OSHA inspections can be unnerving for a company and its employees. Whether you’re on OSHA’s list of programmed inspections, or you’re just being proactive, the methods above will help prepare your team for assessment.

Primex Plastics Corp. in Oakwood says it is taking steps to rectify problems after two employees’ fingers were severed by machines earlier this year.

Primex responds in wake of workers' maimed hands, citation.

Company faces fines after OSHA investigation.

Times staff reports @gtimes 

POSTED: September 2, 2015 6:42 p.m. 

Primex Plastics Corp. in Oakwood says it is taking steps to rectify problems after two employees’ fingers were severed by machines earlier this year.

In a statement released to The Times on Wednesday, General Manager Mark A. Preston said, “We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees. This includes not only improvements to machine safety and processes, but also continued education and training for employees to encourage them to follow the required safety procedures in place and avoid injuries.”

The two incidents involving machines that cut plastic happened less than two weeks apart.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration started an investigation in March after officials learned of an employee’s fingers being severed Feb. 28. During an inspection, Primex officials told inspectors of a second amputation the night before on a similar machine.

The company faces $141,100 in penalties related to the incidents, which were among nearly two dozen for which Primex was cited last week, including 18 serious violations and two other-than-serious safety and health violations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Among the serious citations OSHA made were “failure to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards, ignoring procedures to prevent machines from sudden start-up during maintenance and service, not implementing protections for workers exposed to excessive noise, failing to ensure properly guarded machinery such as shearing machines and a drill press and exposing workers to falls.”

Preston said Wednesday that, “safety is the number one priority.”

“Primex Plastics Corporation will continue to cooperate and work with both OSHA and outside resources to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards for our employees,” Preston said in the statement.

Primex, a Richmond, Ind.-based company, has more than 1,100 workers at facilities in Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Nevada.

Legal Life Plans Inc. ordered to pay $119K in wages, damages to whistle-blowing worker fired after reporting securities fraud

Sept. 3, 2015

Legal Life Plans Inc. ordered to pay $119K in wages, damages
to whistle-blowing worker fired after reporting securities fraud.

OSHA finds legal adviser violated federal whistleblower protections

DENVER, CO - When an employee of a Utah based company discovered possible evidence of securities fraud, he spoke up about his internal investigations and concerns the company was making false representations to potential clients. The company responded by discharging him.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the employee's wrongful termination complaint filed in May 2013 and found that reporting the results of the securities fraud investigation and voicing concerns were factors in his dismissal.

On August 27, 2015, OSHA ordered Legal Life Plans Inc. to pay the former employee $119,556 in back wages, interest and attorney fees. In addition, the company must expunge all records of reference to the adverse actions against the employee and remove any derogatory references from the employees file, related to exercising his rights under the act.

OSHA found the worker's dismissal violated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*, which protects workers who report securities fraud from retaliation.

"Firing a worker for reporting securities fraud is illegal," said Gregory Baxter, regional administrator of OSHA's Denver office. "Employees must be free to exercise their rights under the law without fear of losing their jobs or facing retaliation in the workplace. This order underscores the Labor Department's commitment to protecting those rights."

Both Legal Life Plans Inc. and the employee have 30 days from receipt of OSHA's findings to file objections and request a hearing before the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, maritime and railway safety laws.

Under laws enacted by Congress, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe that they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program. Detailed employee rights information is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA cites Bergen Regional Medical Center after 8 employees assaulted or threatened by patients since February. Worker's complaint prompts OSHA investigation

Sept. 3, 2015

OSHA cites Bergen Regional Medical Center after 8 employees assaulted or threatened by patients since February.

Worker's complaint prompts OSHA investigation

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. - In a three-month period this year, health care workers at Bergen Regional Medical Center LP in Paramus were victims of violent patients in eight incidents, including one in which a nurse suffered a laceration and bruises attempting to stop an attack on a patient.

Following a worker's complaint, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the facility and found eight incidents of workplace violence from Feb. 22, 2015, through June 12. OSHA cited the facility on August 18 for one general duty clause citation for failing to keep the workplace free of hazards.

Employees reported incidents that involved patients barricading workers in a room, threatening them and exposing them to bloodborne pathogens. Several employees experienced being bit, punched, kicked and threatened by patients.

"Bergen Regional Medical Center's management recognized workplace hazards, but lacked adequate procedures to prevent employee exposure," said Lisa Levy, director of OSHA's Hasbrouck Heights Area Office. "With so many incidents, it's clear that this facility's workplace violence program is ineffective and should be improved immediately to protect employees and ensure a safe workplace."

OSHA issued one repeated citation for incorrectly recording workplace injuries on the OSHA 300A illness and injury reporting form. Proposed penalties total $13,600.

In June, the agency expanded use of its enforcement resources in hospitals and nursing homes to focus on workplace violence, one of the most common causes of injuries among healthcare workers. Guidelines for preventing workplace violence for health and social service workers are available at https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf*

Bergen Regional Medical Center is one of the nation's largest hospitals, providing long-term, behavioral health and acute care in northern New Jersey. With more than 1,070 beds, it is also one of the state's largest licensed nursing homes.

Bergen Regional Medical Center requested an informal conference with OSHA's area director after receiving the citations.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Hasbrouck Heights office at 201-288-1700.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Hensel Phelps Construction and CVI Development were cited for one willful violation apiece for failing to adequately protect workers

Sept. 2, 2015

Construction contractors cited for exposing workers on a multi-employer
worksite to excavation hazards.

OSHA cites two contractors for four violations; fines total $88K

Employers’ names: Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and CVI Development LLC

Citations issued: Sept. 3, 2015

Investigation findings: Hensel Phelps Construction and CVI Development were cited for one willful violation apiece for failing to adequately protect workers at the new central library project excavation site in downtown Austin. CVI Development was also cited for two serious violations: for failing to provide supports where material was excavated below a structure, and for not removing exposed workers from an excavation where the employer identified a hazardous condition. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the March 2015 inspection at a construction site on West Avenue in Austin as part of its National Emphasis Program for Trenching and Excavations after receiving a complaint.

Proposed Penalties: Hansel Phelps Construction was fined $70,000 and CVI Development was fined $18,000.

Quote: "Excavation hazards are widely recognized in the construction industry and can have grave consequences when not addressed," said Casey Perkins, OSHA’s area director in Austin. "Multi-employer worksites have overlapping and shared responsibilities for protecting workers and OSHA will continue to enforce its standards by holding all companies responsible when workers are exposed to hazards."

Link to the citations: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CVIDevelopmentLLC_1046044_0903_2015.pdf*
and https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HenselPhelpsConstructionCo_1046163_0903_2015.pdf*

Information: Hensel Phelps Construction, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, and CVI Development, headquartered in Austin, have 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Austin Area Office at 512-374-0271. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov

The world shipbuilding industry is facing drastically stricter requirements for emissions starting this year, and by 2020 emissions will need to be cut even more.

Cleaning Ship Emissions with Metal Sponges

By MarEx 2015-09-03 20:33:47

The world shipbuilding industry is facing drastically stricter requirements for emissions starting this year, and by 2020 emissions will need to be cut even more.

Given this outlook, many vessels are now on a desperate hunt to find new technology that will remove polluting particles from their exhaust emissions, and a pilot project developed by Norway’s NTNU researchers Carlos Dorao and Maria Fernandino shows great promise.

Their technology was originally designed for the gas industry. The production of natural gas involves complicated processes to separate the gas and liquid from each other after being extracted from a well. Separators used in the industry today are expensive and bulky.

Dorao and Fernandino – in collaboration with others – came up with the idea to use a steel sponge along with centrifugal force to remove the fluid from a gas stream, offering a brand new solution for the gas industry.

The hybrid solution is called the Lynx Separator. InnSep was created as a company in 2011 to further develop the researchers’ original idea and to test a more scalable and flexible version of the gas/liquid separator. CEO Sondre K. Jacobsen was hired, and the company’s local office is based at the Gløshaugen Innovation Centre in Trondheim, Norway.

The concept is as follows: Wet gas flows through the separator. A tubular metal sponge spins rapidly, separating the liquid from the gas and throwing it to the side and down, allowing dry gas to stream up to where it’s needed.

The Research Council of Norway has now funded a pilot project to examine the possibility of applying Dorao’s and Fernandino’s separator technology to cleaning the exhaust emissions from ships.

The pilot project has tested liquid at 20-30 degrees. Since ship exhaust typically ranges from 60-70 degrees, one of the goals is to incorporate heat exchangers into the developing technology.

Next, InnSep will take the pilot project results to market players.

Source: Gemini

2 Sailors Missing After Indonesian-flagged container ship M/V Meratus Banjar 2 sank in the Java Sea

M/V Meratus Banjar 2


 
By MarEx 2015-09-03 19:58:26


Two crew members are missing after the Indonesian-flagged container ship M/V Meratus Banjar 2 sank in the Java Sea on September 2. Indonesian naval officials report that the vessel sank due to a leak in the engine room.


Two crew members from the engine room are reported to be unaccounted for, the navy said.


Search and rescue operation for the missing crew is underway. The ship’s owner, Indonesian Meratus Line, has sent one of its ships Meratus Spirit I to aid the search for the missing crew.


The 1997-built Meratus Banjar 2 was en route from Surabaya to Makassar when it started to sink.


The Meratus Banjar 2, built in 1997, is a 7,761 dwt vessel owned by Indonesia’s Meratus Line.

It looks like an old crappy ship.

1 train engineer injured after a Tacoma Rail train hit a stopped BNSF train in Washington

Freight trains collide in Tacoma, engineer injured



An engineer suffered minor injuries in the collision.



Two trains collided on Thursday morning in Tacoma.



TACOMA, Wash. —


On Thursday morning, two freight trains collided in Tacoma.

The low speed collision occurred just before 7:00 a.m.

Tacoma fire officials advised that one person had been injured and was transported to the hospital.

An engineer with Tacoma Rail -- part of Tacoma Public Utilities -- was pulled from the train.

Traffic is being diverted near Port of Tacoma Road and Marshall Avenue.

The Tacoma Rail train hit a stopped BNSF train, according to BNSF.

The Tacoma Rail train derailed during the collision.

KIRO 7 has a reporter at the scene.

Protect Yourself at Work: A Series of Print and Video Materials for Spanish-speaking Immigrant Workers

September 1st, 2015 11:24 am ET - 
Pietra Check, Amy Filko, Mike Flynn, Nura Sadeghpour




Recently, NIOSH released a series of multi-media communication products for organizations that serve Spanish-speaking immigrant workers entitled Protéjase en el trabajo (Protect yourself at work). 

This series of products is a result of a multi-faceted project that includes 1) a partnership between NIOSH and the Mexican Consulates in the U.S. and 2) the development of illustrated materials for workers created through community outreach, engagement and input. 

The series includes 4 booklets/brochures, 2 posters, and 5 testimonial videos. 

The purpose of these materials is to provide evidence-based information to raise awareness about potential occupational safety and health issues and encourage workers to seek assistance for work-related questions or concerns. 

These new products are not meant to take the place of existing training and educational materials or intended to replace industry guidance and training, but instead serve as another venue to provide education and knowledge to these workers.

A two-alarm fire broke out at a salvage yard in Bithlo, causing crews to shut down East Colonial Drive Thursday afternoon

2-alarm fire destroy auto parts business on Colonial Drive in Bithlo



ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —


A two-alarm fire broke out at a salvage yard in Bithlo, causing crews to shut down East Colonial Drive Thursday afternoon. It has since reopened.

Skywitness 9 was over the scene at Eco Green Auto Parts as firefighters worked to put out the blaze. When it was all over, the building was only a shell of its former self.


Tires, oil, gas and old car parts helped fuel the flames for a number of hours.

"Initially we had a high volume of fire that came out," said Orange County Fire Rescue Chief Darion Butler. "You could see it from the road. Actually, you could see it from a couple of blocks so when our crews got here, they saw the fire coming from the roof line."

One man was hospitalized with burn injuries, but there's no word on bad the injury was.

Officials with Orange County Public Schools said some buses on the east side of town were also delayed because of the road closure. (list of schools affected)

250,000 gallons of slurry oil spilled into the Mississippi River after two towboats collided near Paducah, Kentucky

Clean up crews plan to go into Mississippi River after collision causes oil spill in Kentucky

Damage on a barge is seen as it is moored along the Kentucky shore of the Mississippi River at Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus, Ky., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. A tow, seen in the background, traveling north on the river struck the barge as it was traveling south across the river. The Mississippi River has been closed to barge traffic because the damaged barge leaked clarified slurry oil. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee)


Associated Press Sept. 4, 2015 | 7:11 a.m. EDT




By BRUCE SCHREINER and ADRIAN SAINZ, Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ky. (AP) — Clean up crews planned to go into the Mississippi River on Friday in Kentucky after a collision between two tow boats caused an oil spill that prompted the closure of that part of the river.

The collision Wednesday evening near Columbus, Kentucky, damaged at least one barge carrying clarified slurry oil. The cargo tank ruptured, causing thousands of gallons of oil to spill into the river, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

No injuries were reported.

The river was closed Thursday from mile markers 938 to 922, Petty Officer Lora Ratliff said.

The barge was carrying approximately 1 million gallons, but the breach was only in one area, affecting just one of its six tanks, Ratliff said. That tank holds 250,000 gallons, and Lt. Takila Powell said a little more than 120,000 gallons spilled into the river.

The Coast Guard said it was working with the barge owner, Inland Marine Services, and an oil spill response organization. Inland Marine Services referred calls to its public relations person, Patrick Crowley, who did not return repeated calls seeking comment.

Both tow boat operators had been interviewed by Coast Guard investigators and underwent drug and alcohol testing, but results weren't back yet, Powell said.

"We are working diligently to try to restore our marine transportation system," Powell said. "We understand that it is vital."

The Coast Guard determined five barges were damaged in the collision, but nothing other than the oil leaked into the river, Powell said.

The tow boats were moored on opposite sides of the river and a long gash was apparent in the smaller vessel. River traffic was backed up on both sides, though it wasn't yet known how many vessels were backed up. By Thursday evening, there was no sign of a large cleanup operation.

Powell said cleanup efforts had started with the barge and that crews put a boom around the ruptured cargo tank to prevent any residual oil from leaking into the river. Cleanup crews Friday will go into the river to try to determine where the oil is, with a goal of trying to recover as much of the oil as possible from the river.

Some oil was recovered from the surface during cleanup operations Thursday, Powell said, but she didn't know how much.

Powell said the oil is thick and has to be heated to be transferred or moved.

"How this type of product typically would react is that when it reaches the water that is of a lower temperature, it would solidify and sink," she said Thursday. "But one of the things that we will be doing (Friday) is trying to determine where that oil has migrated to, to try to determine whether or not it has moved down the river or if it's still in the vicinity of where the collision occurred."

The collision happened in the middle of the river channel near Columbus, Kentucky, late Wednesday, the Coast Guard said. The cause was under investigation. The closure stretched 17 miles south to the city of Hickman.

Powell said it was hard to say how much of the oil was released mid-channel because the barge was eventually pushed up to the bank.

Powell said there had been no reports of fish kills.
A May 19 oil pipeline rupture in California caused a spill of what has been estimated to be up to 143,000 gallons of crude, according to documents from Texas-based Plains All American Pipeline. That spill forced a popular state park to shut down for two months, and goo from the spill washed up on beaches as far as 100 miles away.

A July 2008 spill caused by a collision between a tugboat and a barge carrying oil on the Mississippi River in New Orleans sent 282,000 gallons into the water and caused the closure of the river.
//---------------------------////
 


Thousands of Gallons of Oil Spilled in Mississippi River


COLUMBUS, Ky. — Sep 3, 2015, 9:22 PM ET
By BRUCE SCHREINER and ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press






Part of the Mississippi River was closed as crews investigated an oil spill caused by the collision of two tow boats, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.

The collision Wednesday evening near Columbus, Kentucky, damaged at least one barge carrying clarified slurry oil. The cargo tank was ruptured, causing thousands of gallons of oil to spill into the river, the Coast Guard said.

No injuries were reported.

The river is closed from mile markers 938 to 922, Petty Officer Lora Ratliff said.

The barge was carrying approximately 1 million gallons, but the breach was only in one area, affecting just one of its six tanks, Ratliff said. That tank holds 250,000 gallons, and Lt. Takila Powell said a little more than 120,000 gallons spilled into the river.

The Coast Guard said it was working with the barge owner, Inland Marine Services, and an oil spill response organization. Inland Marine Services referred calls to its public relations person, Patrick Crowley, who did not return repeated calls seeking comment.

Both tow boat operators had been interviewed by Coast Guard investigators and underwent drug and alcohol testing, but results aren't back yet, Powell said.

It wasn't known how long the river would be closed.

"We are working diligently to try to restore our marine transportation system," Powell said. "We understand that it is vital."

The Coast Guard determined five barges were damaged in the collision, but nothing other than the oil leaked into the river, Powell said.

The tow boats were moored on opposite sides of the river and a long gash was apparent in the smaller vessel. River traffic was backed up on both sides, though it wasn't yet known how many vessels were backed up. By Thursday evening, there was no sign of a large cleanup operation.

Powell said cleanup efforts had started with the barge and that crews put a boom around the ruptured cargo tank to prevent any residual oil from leaking into the river. Cleanup crews Friday will go into the river to try to determine where the oil is, with a goal of trying to recover as much of the oil as possible from the river.

Some oil was recovered from the surface during cleanup operations Thursday, Powell said, but she didn't know how much.

Powell said the oil is thick and has to be heated to be transferred or moved.

"How this type of product typically would react is that when it reaches the water that is of a lower temperature, it would solidify and sink," she said Thursday. "But one of the things that we will be doing tomorrow is trying to determine where that oil has migrated to, to try to determine whether or not it has moved down the river or if it's still in the vicinity of where the collision occurred."

The collision happened in the middle of the river channel near Columbus, Kentucky, late Wednesday, the Coast Guard said. The cause was under investigation. The closure stretched 17 miles south to the city of Hickman.

Powell said it was hard to say how much of the oil was released mid-channel because the barge was eventually pushed up to the bank.

Keleia McCloud, assistant director of the Hickman port, says both the port and ferry service were operating normally.

Hickman County official Kenny Wilson said local communities experienced no disruptions from the spill and the water supply in Columbus was not affected because it comes from wells. He said Columbus-Belmont State Park remained open.

Powell said there had been no reports of fish kills.

 ///////////------------------//
Coast Guard response continues to tug collision near Paducah
September 3rd, 2015 

 

PADUCAH, Ky. – On-scene assessment teams have reported the maximum estimated potential clarified slurry oil released from the tug collision is now 250,000 gallons, Thursday.

The maximum potential spill has been reduced because the two remaining partitions aboard the affected barge were reportedly secured.

A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed wing aircraft conducted an over flight earlier today, which revealed a five-mile discoloration beginning at the impact site.

A safety zone is in place on the Mississippi River, and currently closed to all traffic except response vessels between mile markers 939-922. A queue is in place, six up bound and nine down bound.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a call about a collision between two towboats at mile marker 937 at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday.

The Coast Guard is working with the barge owner and SWS, an oil spill response organization, to determine the amount of slurry oil that has been discharged.

The cause of the collision is currently under investigation.


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SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2015

PADUCAH, KY

An Incident Command Post has been established in response to a tow boat collision on the Mississippi River near Paducah Thursday.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received a call about a collision between two towboats at mile marker 937 at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday.

The collision caused damage to at least one barge containing clarified slurry oil, rupturing the cargo tank and discharging an unknown amount of oil into the Mississippi River.

The barge reportedly has a maximum potential of 1.05 million gallons of clarified slurry oil. The Coast Guard is working with the barge owner and SWS, an oil spill response organization, to determine the amount of slurry oil that has been discharged.

The Mississippi River has been closed to all traffic from Mile Marker 938 to 922, with the exception of authorized vessels working the incident.

The cause of the collision is currently under investigation.


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Posted: September 3, 2015

 PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) -

The Coast Guard is investigating a towboat collision on the Mississippi River near Columbus, KY.

According to the Coast Guard, watchstanders received a call about the collision between two towboats at mile marker 937 at 8:22 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard reports the collision caused damage to a barge containing clarified slurry oil.

It is leaking an unknown amount into the water.

The Coast Guard reports the barge reportedly can carry up to 1.05 million gallons of the the oil.

Along with the barge owner and an oil response organization, the Coast Guard is working to determine how much of the slurry oil has been discharged.

The incident is under investigation.

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Slurry oil.  It is very viscous.  Good luck with the cleanup!




Slurry oil is a heavy aromatic by-product of a refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit that forms a small part of global fuel oil supply. Generally, it is mixed into heavy fuel oil as a viscosity cutter. Slurry oil's low API gravity, however, limits how much can be blended.

The US has never been a heavy user of fuel oil and, in fact, produces more slurry oil than it can absorb. US Gulf Coast refiners and traders, in particular, must find outlets for excess slurry oil.

The US carbon black industry has always used slurry oil as feedstock (CBFS), but Asian carbon black companies have now become major customers for US slurry CBFS. Because not all slurry oils meet CBFS specifications, however, traders lately have found it profitable to ship slurry oil to Singapore where it is blended with high API gravity, low-sulfur oil components to meet the high fuel oil demand in Asia.

2 injured after small plane crash lands on soccer field in Cresskill, NJ

(Photo: Air11)
Posted September 3, 2015
by Andrea Cavallier


CRESSKILL, N.J. -- 

A single-engine plane crash landed into some trees at a soccer field behind the Cresskill Swim Club along the Hudson River in New Jersey, officials reported.

Two occupants were aboard the plane and are being transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with unknown injuries.

The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that the crash included the Coast Guard Auxiliary, who were doing a routine flight.

Officials say the pilot reported engine trouble to LaGuardia Airport while over the Hudson River and were heading to Teterboro Airport to land.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Local law enforcement speaks on TxDOT Drink, Drive, Go to Jail campaign

Updated: Thursday, September 3, 2015

By: Matt McGovern

LAREDO, TEXAS (KGNS) - 

According to recent data, a DUI/alcohol crash happens every 21 minutes and 32 seconds in the State of Texas.

This is why local, and state law enforcement agencies are joining forces - working overtime to catch those who get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

Last summer in Texas, more than 300 people were killed, and 680 were seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes.

TxDOT wants drivers to plan ahead for a safe ride home during the holiday weekend. Tonight on KGNS News, we'll hear the message from local law enforcement about the Drink, Drive, Go to Jail campaign.




The problem is that young people have not fully developed the logical part of their brain; so, not all that makes any sense to them, until it is too late as happened to hundreds of young man who crashed their vehicles and died.  They will not do that again for sure, as they reached their final destination.

Another young man dies after crashing Corvette on Winfield Drive in Laredo, Texas

Updated: Thursday, September 3, 2015

By: Matt McGovern





LAREDO, TEXAS (KGNS) - 

The Laredo Police Department Crash Team is busy Thursday morning trying to put the pieces together in another crash.

A 20-year-old lost control of his Corvette, and crashed on Winfield Drive around midnight. The driver was later identified as Eusebio Berrum Barrios.

Police say Barrios died in the hospital.

The case is currently under investigation.


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Local law enforcement speaks on TxDOT campaign

Updated: Thu 12:28 PM, Sep 03, 2015

By: Matt McGovern

LAREDO, TEXAS (KGNS) - 

According to recent data, a DUI/alcohol crash happens every 21 minutes and 32 seconds in the State of Texas.

This is why local, and state law enforcement agencies are joining forces - working overtime to catch those who get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

Last summer in Texas, more than 300 people were killed, and 680 were seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes.

TxDOT wants drivers to plan ahead for a safe ride home during the holiday weekend. Tonight on KGNS News, we'll hear the message from local law enforcement about the Drink, Drive, Go to Jail campaign.




The problem is that young people have not fully developed the logical part of their brain; so, not all that makes any sense to them, until it is too late as happened to this young man who crashed his car onto a wall and died.  He will not do that again for sure, as he reached his final destination.

19-year-old worker dies, 3 injured after cement block wall collapses at Williamsburg demolition site in Brooklyn, New York

Newscopter7 is over Fort Greene Brooklyn



Updated 39 mins ago
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) -- 

A 19-year-old construction worker had died after a wall collapsed at a building under demolition in Brooklyn.

The wall fell at a work site on Myrtle Avenue between Taaffe Place and Classon Avenue in Williamsburg just after 11:30 a.m.



Three workers injured were taken to area hospitals, where the one died a short time later. The other two are in stable condition.

Police said a cement block wall is what fell on the workers.

Here's a photo of the scene from NewsCopter 7:


Other people were being evaluated, but it's unclear if there are other injuries.

Stay with abc7NY for the latest on this developing story.