TOTAL COSTS RESULTING FROM TWO MAJOR OIL SPILLS

In February 1976 a barge sank in the lower Chesapeake Bay spilling 250,000 gallons of oil. This spill caused about $1.3 million in damages, losses, and cleanup expenses. In December 1976 the Argo Merchant ran aground and later sank off the coast of Massachusetts spilling 7.5 million gallons of oil. Estimated total cost of this spill was $5.2 million including an estimated $2.4 million of oil spilled. Monetary value could not be placed on certain aspects of the environment affected by the spills. In addition, the long term environmental effects have not been determined.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This Report of the Comptroller General of the United States is restricted to release with approval by the Office of Congressional Relations.
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1977-6-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic analysis; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Pollution control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pollution abatement
• Subject Areas: Economics; Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165458
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Coast Guard
• Report/Paper Numbers: CED-77-71
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1977 12:00AM