Spills

On november 21, 1986, the U.S

Caustic Soda Spill; San Francisco · San Francisco · NOAAORR-6420

issued
1986-11-21 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1986-12-05 00:00Z
self-cancels
1986-12-05 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
37.786, -122.424
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Caustic Soda Spill; San Francisco.
San Francisco.
1. On November 21, 1986, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Alameda, was notified by the California Highway Patrol that a large tank truck had overturned in downtown San Francisco. A substance, leaking at a rate of approximately 1 gallon per minute, was observed. A manifest retrieved from the cab indicated that the leaking material was 90% caustic soda, 5% sodium chloride, and 3% devonal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game were notified, because it was discovered that approximately 10 gallons of the caustic soda solution had entered a storm drain leading directly to the Oakland inner harbor, which leads directly to the San Francisco Bay. USCG district 12.
2. COMMODITY: CAUSTIC SODA.
3. POSITION 37.786N 122.424W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6420: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6420

This area · spills & pollution incidents

246 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

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Timeline · 26 messages since 1986-01-04 · closed 1987-01-10

  1. Two tugs collided 1/4 mile north of carquiney bride (sf).; vallejo, ca1986-01-04 → 1986-01-18
  2. On january 4, 1986, the 65-foot tug, napa river, collided in foggy conditions with the tug sea breeze, which…1986-01-04 → 1986-01-18
  3. Santa fe channel, richmond, california1986-01-17 → 1986-01-31
  4. Bolinas pt, ca1986-02-13 → 1986-02-27
  5. MLC310 barge; bolinas point, california1986-02-13 → 1986-02-27
  6. 20% sulfuric acid haywood, ca.; haywood, ca1986-03-10 → 1986-03-24
  7. On march 13, 1986, the U.S1986-03-13 → 1986-03-27
  8. San leandro, california1986-04-02 → 1986-04-16
  9. San francisco, california1986-05-05 → 1986-05-19
  10. Coast guard support Center1; alameda, california1986-05-06 → 1986-05-20
  11. Stevedoring services of america 1; san francisco, california1986-06-04 → 1986-06-18
  12. On june 26, 1986, a 25 cubic yard capacity dumpster containing ammonia and chlorine products caught fire and…1986-06-26 → 1986-07-10
  13. At 0900 on july 25, 1986, the U.S1986-07-25 → 1986-08-08
  14. At 0715 on july 30, 1986, dexter chemical company notified the U.S1986-07-30 → 1986-08-13
  15. Mars; alameda, california1986-08-04 → 1986-08-18
  16. Redwood creek, redwood city, california1986-08-19 → 1986-09-02
  17. On september 2, 1986, approximately 1,800 gallons of gasoline leaked from a pipeline which had broken loose…1986-09-02 → 1986-09-16
  18. On october 3, 1986, approximately 20 drums of various material, some of them leaking, were discovered to be…1986-10-03 → 1986-10-17
  19. San francisco, california1986-10-21 → 1986-11-04
  20. On november 21, 1986, the U.S this message1986-11-21 → 1986-12-05
  21. At 1630 on november 29, 1986, the U.S1986-11-29 → 1986-12-13
  22. San leandro, california1986-12-04 → 1986-12-18
  23. On december 4, 1986, a U.S1986-12-04 → 1986-12-18
  24. San francisco, ca1986-12-10 → 1986-12-24
  25. Cessna 172 crash; san mateo, california1986-12-11 → 1986-12-25
  26. Palo alto, california1986-12-27 → 1987-01-10

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Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →

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