Noaa was notified of this incident on october 1, 1995, by mso hampton roads

Original warning text

Abandoned Bunker Barges; Norfolk, Virginia.
Norfolk, Virginia.
1. NOAA was notified of this incident on October 1, 1995, by MSO Hampton Roads. Analysis of samples taken from the abandoned barges was a high priority during this response. If it was discovered that the material onboard was not an oily material that could be categorized as a "waste oil," but rather contained high levels of chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the safety of site workers and the funding mechanism for the cleanup operation would have to be reconsidered. NOAA participated with MSO Hampton Roads in several meetings before removal was started and by telephone during the removal operations. The goals of the sampling program and the details of sample results were discussed during these meetings. For example, sample analysis on the T/B Bunker Delaware indicated waste oil in all tanks with waste oil and some traces of benzene in #3 and #4 port tanks only. The level [...]
2. COMMODITY: WASTE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 665000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 36.133N 076.383W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7110: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7110