Update 3: Unified Command Provides Update Following Overnight Rain at Response Site

YORK, PA (March 6, 2026) – The Unified Command continues response operations following overnight heavy rainfall at the site of an oil spill at a salvage yard in York, Pa.

Crews were on site early this morning checking containment measures and surveying for any additional oil deposits or sheen. Responders replaced or repositioned containment and deflection boom and assessed impacts to underflow dams.

A large vacuum truck with a high-powered suction system is now being used on site to safely collect, transport, and dispose of oil-water mixtures and contaminated fluids from the sites.

Prior to the storm, crews removed approximately 2,000 gallons of oily water from the unnamed tributary on the salvage yard.

“Even with the heavy rain overnight, our Philadelphia Street boom is working as designed and remains in good shape,” said Incident Commander Ashley Nilsen, EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator. “One of the reasons we place boom at multiple locations is so there’s layered backup measures in case we do lose one, we still have other protection in place. We also removed a good volume of the oil-water mixture before the weather moved in, which really helped limit potential impacts to the creek.”

Due to the increased water flow, some unrecovered oil or product may have moved downstream and could appear as a sheen on the surface of the water. A sheen is a thin, rainbow-colored film. While it can be visible over a wide area, it typically represents a very thin layer of material. Containment and absorbent boom is deployed downstream to help capture and recover floating product.

Future Actions

Crews will continue to conduct mitigation, containment, and recovery activities along the unnamed tributary, Codorus Creek, and Susquehanna River. Water sampling, air monitoring, and site assessment work is ongoing.

The Unified Command’s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the affected public and responders.

The Unified Command consists of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), York County Hazardous Materials Team, York Area Fire/York Regional Emergency Management, and Spring Garden Township.

A website has been created to ensure information is readily accessible to the public: response.epa.gov/YorkSalvageYardFire.

York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders set and replace boom along the tributary at the salvage yard near the Codorus Creek in York, Pa., March 6, 2026, after significant overnight rainfall.   To date, over 2000 gallons of oily water mixture have been removed from the site with operations ongoing. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Tamargo

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