Update: Oil spill estimates lowered

The Coast Guard was responding to a heavy fuel oil discharge into the Mississippi River near Norco on April 23. An estimated 2,600 gallons spilled from a 600-foot-long tanker ship, the Netherlands-flagged Iver Exporter, moored at the Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex near mile marker 126, according to a Coast Guard media release. The spill was reported at 1 a.m. There were no known injuries or waterway closures. OMI Environmental Solutions’ oil spill response team responded to the spill. The CG is assessing affected areas by air. The cause of the spill is under investigation. (Source: NOLA.com 04/23/18) UPDATE: The CG later down-graded its earlier estimate of fuel oil spilled to 1,400 gallons. The Unified Command conducted overflights and found shoreline impact from mile marker 126-122.