{"id":12839,"date":"2024-03-07T11:10:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T10:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12839"},"modified":"2024-03-07T11:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T10:10:12","slug":"what-kind-of-oil-spilled-into-the-mississippi-river-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-kind-of-oil-spilled-into-the-mississippi-river-history\/","title":{"rendered":"What Kind Of Oil Spilled Into The Mississippi River History"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Oil Spill Timeline <\/h2>\n

Oil pollution has been plaguing the Mississippi River since the late 19th century. In 1871, a tanker laden with oil ran aground near the city of New Orleans, Louisiana and released its cargo into the river. This would be the first of many oil spills in the river’s history.<\/p>\n

In 1939, an explosion and leakage from an oil refinery occurred along the Mississippi over the course of six days, causing a substantial impact on the surrounding area’s water supply. This event also captured national attention, drawing the ire of concerned citizens.<\/p>\n

In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. oil industry saw a surge in the number of offshore oil drilling rigs. Pollution from these rigs caused huge problems for the Mississippi River’s surrounding ecosystems. In 1972, the United States Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) in order to protect the river’s ecosystem and wildlife.<\/p>\n

In 1977, a tanker carrying crude oil ran aground off the coast of Louisiana and dumped thousands of barrels of oil into the river. This spill was particularly devastating as it was the largest to have ever occurred in the area at the time. It caused major disruption to the local fish and wildlife in the area.<\/p>\n