P.M. BRIEFING : Oil Spill Exceeds Early Estimate
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NEW YORK — The heating oil spill that has closed a waterway between New Jersey and New York City may be 100 times larger than first estimated, the Coast Guard said today.
The spill Tuesday from a 12-inch Exxon pipeline shut down the Arthur Kill between New Jersey and Staten Island, one of New York City’s five boroughs.
Environmentalists said the leak, stretching 11 miles, could harm valuable nesting grounds for nine species of herons, egrets and ibises, several of which are threatened.
“The spill may be 10,000 to 13,000 barrels (420,000 to 546,000 gallons) rather than 5,000 gallons estimated on Tuesday,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Howard Holmes.
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