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Superstorm Sandy battered the New York coastline, including here at Jersey Shore. AP Photo/Mike Groll

Shell confirms superstorm Sandy triggers oil spill

Company doesn’t specify amount of oil spilled but says it is located off New York City.

US OIL COMPANY Shell confirmed today that superstorm Sandy had triggered an oil spill in the waters off New York City, without specifying an amount, and said clean up efforts were underway.

The US Coast guard, which is overseeing clean up efforts, said an estimate from refinery operator Motiva indicated up to 300,00 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled.

“At least two diesel storage tanks were damaged and an unknown quantity of product was released,” Shell said in a statement.

The storage tanks were at a Sewaren, New Jersey refinery part-owned by Shell and run by Motiva.

“No injuries have occurred and there has been no further product released since the initial event.”

“Previously deployed booms are continuing to skim released product in the Woodbridge creek adjacent to the site. Motiva and public emergency responders are onsite assessing the situation,” Shell said.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard said clean up efforts are hindered by the storm damage.

“The port has been torn up by the storm, so that complicates things. There’s debris in the waterways which makes it difficult for our boats to navigate safely through there,” said Erik Swanson.

But he said the oil had been successfully contained by a floating boom to minimize its spread.

He added that, during a flight to assess to storm’s impact, the coast guard had seen evidence of minor oil spills in other spots, but the Sewaren spill was the most significant.

Sandy carved a path of devastation across the US northeast on Monday and Tuesday, flooding lower Manhattan and much of the New Jersey coastline and leaving millions without electricity across several states.

- AFP, 2012

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:29 AM

    “Met Éireann is forecasting”

    Ehhhh no it isn’t, It’s more like guesswork.

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    Mute Howye Lads
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:38 AM

    Great guess so, looks like it’s spot on

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:46 AM

    Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Aug 30th 2016, 2:41 PM

    Met Eireann “guessworks”

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:23 AM

    Where is this “sun”?

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    Mute Ray Dow
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:29 AM

    I don’t think the Journal have a clue what they’re talking about when it comes to the weather. They’ve gotten it wrong in nearly every article I’ve read in the past few weeks.

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    Mute TheLoneHurler
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    Aug 30th 2016, 11:05 AM

    They don’t. They just want you to think it’s hot hot hot, so when Mr Noonan comes with a jar of vaseline and carbon tax in October, you’ll remember that the world is getting hot hot hot and duly oblige.

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    Mute Seosamh Púinse
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:09 AM

    Starting to drizzle here in cork

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    Mute Aiden Kelly
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    Aug 30th 2016, 10:18 AM

    Was about to say similar

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    Mute Bill O'Connor
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    Aug 30th 2016, 9:48 AM

    It’s very gloomy where I am

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    Mute Ruairi Nolan
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    Aug 30th 2016, 12:26 PM

    Love how in Ireland, no matter how sunny it gets, there’s always someone to inform you of when its gonna rain next :)

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    Mute Dwayne Jordan
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    Aug 30th 2016, 11:27 AM

    Wrong again. It’s very cloudy in Mayo.

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