RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Friday, December 8, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-348 - Isle Royale (Lake Superior) - Oil Spill; Assist to USCG

At about 2:30 a.m. on December 4th, the 180-foot Coast Guard Cutter Mesquite
ran aground on a submerged shoal near Manitou Island off Keweenaw Point in
Lake Superior, about 50 miles southeast of Isle Royale. The Mesquite was
carrying between 20,000 and 30,000 gallons of #2 diesel fuel, and the
potential for a serious spill was immediately apparent. The DOI office in
Chicago notified Midwest Region of the spill on the morning of the 4th, and
region in turn notified Apostle Islands, Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks and
Grand Portage. During the morning, the Coast Guard flew in a strike team to
Houghton, Michigan, where they and their equipment were picked up by the
226-foot Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Samuel Risley. At the U.S. Coast
Guard's request and with the park's approval, the Risley had already picked
up Isle Royale's work barge and two Isle Royale personnel. All were taken
to the scene of the incident. The USCG also requested Isle Royale's fuel
barge, as they had been unable to find any other vessel in which to put the
diesel fuel and contaminated fuel from the Mesquite. Although that barge
was in storage for the winter, the park agreed to loan it to USCG under the
condition that the Coast Guard break the ice to Isle Royale, bring the barge
to Houghton and offload the approximately 25,000 gallons of gasoline it
contained, then reload the gasoline and return the barge to the park after
the Coast Guard finished using it. USCG agreed to these conditions and
dispatched the 140-foot Anglican Princess, a private Canadian tug, to Isle
Royale to pick up the fuel barge. The tug proved to be too large to enter
the cove where the barge was docked, however, and severe cold weather made
it impossible to launch a smaller work boat. The operation was therefore
cancelled, and the Anglican Princess headed back to the Mesquite.
Overflights of the cutter show that the nearby water is covered with a light
sheen of oil about 50 by 100 yards in size. At the time of the report, Navy
divers were on scene assisting in damage assessment, and predictions were
that the vessel, which is about 500 yards from the shore and flooding, would
release about 200 gallons of fuel a day into the lake if existing weather
conditions continued. (Telefax report from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO).

OFFICE NOTES

1) Washington is under a winter storm warning for considerable snow today,
and a liberal leave policy is already in effect. If you can't get through
to an office here today, that's probably the reason why.

STAFF STATUS

Kreis on lieu day, Loach on SL, Farabee and Healy on scheduled AL.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER
SEAdog:     1/650 (Phone:343-6014; BAUD:2400)