As part of a Unified Command, U.S. Navy and interagency partners continue to clean up and assess damage on and off base following Thursday's fuel spill of approximately 94,000 gallons from a tank at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana. The installation's Commanding Officer Capt. Rich Meadows this morning visited local residents whose property was affected by the spill. Overnight, cleanup crews removed almost 20,000 gallons from affected areas outside the fence line of NAS Oceana.

NAS Oceana and the Navy are working with U.S. Coast Guard, City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and other federal, state, and local responders on the cleanup.

"The spill has been contained," said Meadows. "We've made very good progress in the last twenty four hours with great cooperation from our federal, state and local partners."

There have been reports of affected wildlife and experts have been called in to assist. Anyone who finds wildlife that appears to have been affected by the fuel spill should not make any attempts to touch or assist the animal. Instead, residents are asked to call (757) 438-3159 and wildlife experts will be dispatched.

Yesterday, crews placed water booms on Wolfsnare Creek on the tributary located between Elon Drive and North Adventure Trail, and protective berms on NAS Oceana to contain the spilled fuel. The weather and tides have aided the cleanup efforts.

Two vacuum trucks and two skimmers are working around the clock continuing the cleanup effort. Unified response teams continue to monitor water and air quality to ensure public safety during cleanup efforts. Although the smell of fuel may still be present, all readings are within acceptable levels.

Traffic along Northbound London Bridge Road remains closed today between International Parkway and Potters Roads and one lane Southbound on London Bridge Road between Potters Road and Central Drive as cleanup crews and equipment work to remove the spilled fuel from a culvert.

Cleanup efforts are expected to continue through the weekend.
Residents with concerns can call the City of Virginia Beach's 311 non-emergency number.

The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/.