Spills

On 29 april, 2000, the noaa ssc was notified by mso new orleans of a release of approximately 450,000…

Westwego Citric Acid Spill; Westwego, la · Westwego, la · NOAAORR-7560

issued
2001-04-29 00:00Z
status
cancelled 2001-05-13 00:00Z
self-cancels
2001-05-13 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.913, -90.139
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Westwego Citric Acid Spill; Westwego, LA.
Westwego, LA.
1. On 29 April, 2000, the NOAA SSC was notified by MSO New Orleans of a release of approximately 450,000 gallons of waste cleaning water containing citric acid and iron oxide into a shallow drainage ditch near Westwego, Louisiana. The release was from an Entergy power plant boiler. Apparently, the release occurred on the evening of 28 April. A fish kill has been observed. The spill has been contained within a three mile ditch. At present, the pH of water in the ditch is reported between 8.1 and 8.5. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is reported to be low at several locations. Westwego is located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River near New Orleans. The out-fall of the ditch would lead to the Bayou Segnette State Park and eventually Lake Salvador. Both are sensitive coastal marsh habitats. The USCG requested characterization of the hazards and potential response options. NOAA is also providing [...]
2. COMMODITY: CITRIC ACID AND IRON OXIDE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 450000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 29.913N 090.139W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7560: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7560

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1082 within 180 nm since 1970 · 37 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Worldwide now

8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

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

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.