Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials say there is no threat to drinking water after a container ship carrying hazardous materials crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, causing the structure to collapse into the Patapsco River.
The Dali, a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, hit one of the bridge's support columns at around 1:30 a.m. after losing power, causing the structure to snap apart in several places and fall into the river. Six people working on the bridge at the time of the collapse are presumed dead. Two others were found alive shortly after the bridge collapsed.
Of the 4,700 containers onboard the ship, two fell overboard but neither contained hazardous materials, USA Today reported. Fifty-six containers with hazardous materials were on board and several were breached, causing their contents to spill into the harbor. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy said Wednesday a "sheen" had been identified in the water, which she said will be dealt with by federal, state and local authorities.
She added that the NTSB's investigation into the incident will be a "massive undertaking" and could take between 12 and 24 months. However, she said that a preliminary report is expected in the next few weeks and that the agency will issue urgent safety recommendations.
The 764 tons of hazardous materials included corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries, according to the NTSB. The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency responding to the spill, and the EPA has provided staff to assist.
"EPA has been tracking closely, and we have emergency response personnel on the scene, working closely with the Coast Guard as the lead federal agency," an EPA spokesperson told Newsweek.
"EPA can say that we're not aware of any hazardous material or fuel leakage at this time and can confirm that there are no nearby drinking water intakes and therefore no threat to drinking water safety," the spokesperson said.
As of Wednesday night, inspecting agencies have found no evidence that the damaged ship is leaking fuel into the river, USA Today reported.
Newsweek reached out to a U.S. Coast Guard representative by phone for comment.
Despite the breached containers, officials have said there is no threat to the public.
Responding agencies are still working to figure out how to remove the bridge debris from the ship. The bridge debris is weighing the vessel down, causing its bow to be underwater.
"The vessel is stable, but it still has over 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil and lube oil on board," Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier said in a White House briefing on Wednesday, although there is no evidence that the ship is leaking fuel or oil into the river.
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Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
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