Easton Utilities had a diesel spill Monday morning – the company thought they had it under control and because of that, they didn’t initially report it to Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
“We understood the malfunction happened Monday morning and it was a valve,” said Kelly Simonsen, director of culture and communications for Easton Utilities. “We estimated it was less than 10 gallons – that’s why we didn’t report it to MDE because it was a minimal and we did all the remediation efforts. We did not contact MDE and we usually do. We have to contact them within two hours. Our team thought we had mitigated it enough – we were not aware of the significance it had gotten in the waterway.”
The spill, which happened in Easton’s Bay Street Ponds, was reported a day later.
In all, 10 birds would be covered in diesel- some dead, some still alive, some dying later.
In an Easton Facebook group, a man who lives nearby the ponds had first posted about the smell of diesel and birds covered in the fuel Monday night. He posted again Tuesday morning.
Easton Utilities made another mistake that confused people, including me.
On that Facebook post Tuesday morning, Easton Utilities commented, “Easton Utilities had a minimal diesel fuel leak on Monday, February 9th, which was immediately reported to MDE and remediation efforts were started. MDE is working in conjunction with local emergency response teams to eliminate environmental impacts. We are committed to the safety and health of our community.”
They didn’t report it Monday though.
“I’m sorry – we were wrong in posting that,” explained Simonsen, director of culture and communication for Easton Utilities. “It was mixed communication internally.”
The Tuesday morning Facebook post seemed to get the attention of all the right people – emergency services personnel went to investigate and lots of people sprang into action.
I also saw the Facebook post Tuesday morning. I’m a bird of prey rescuer and I was concerned about the possibility of birds needing help.
Added to the concern, I had seen the wrong information shared by Easton Utilities that the spill had been reported Monday. I couldn’t figure out why there had been no response for the birds yet.
I immediately called the non-emergency line for Easton Volunteer Fire Department – I spoke to dispatch, told them who I was and asked if any birds were covered. They told me they’d call back as soon as fire department personnel had investigated.
The next call I placed was to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research to warn them of a possible fuel spill had in Easton and birds might need help. Oiled wildlife response falls under the purview of Tri-State Bird Rescue and Resarch in Newark, De. They’re the experts, they have the training and the facilities.
I told Tri-State that I hadn’t heard yet from authorities and all I knew had come from Facebook. I told them as soon as I knew anything I’d call them back.
Within ten minutes of the first call to emergency services, dispatch called me back. Easton Police also called me. There was a definite need for wildlife rescue at the site – it was indicated two ducks (mallards) were already dead and other wildlife needed help.
I called Tri-State back and connected their oiled wildlife response unit with Easton Police. I was told Tri-State oiled wildlife rescue personnel were planning on responding.
I would later learn there were many others springing into action to get the birds help.
According to Jay Apperson, MDE’s deputy director of communications, MDE personnel contacted Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help.
Gregg Bortz, DNR’s media relations manager, stated, “Our staff was alerted early Tuesday by Talbot County Health Department’s Environmental Health.”
A total of seven birds were transported by DNR personnel to Tri-State on Tuesday. Two of those birds (another mallard and a Canada goose) later died. Another Canada goose covered in diesel would be found the next day (Wednesday) and that one also was also rescued and transported to Tri-State by DNR personnel.
“Oil spills pose an immediate and serious threat to wildlife,” explained Autumn Reiter, executive director of Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. “For birds, it damages their feathers’ ability to insulate and repel water, which can quickly lead to hypothermia, dehydration, and organ damage. Our priority is to stabilize each bird and provide the intensive care necessary to return them safely to the wild.”
Should additional oiled birds be seen call Tri-State’s hotline at 800-261-0980.
Tri-State will be providing updates on the birds as they become available.
Simonsen indicated Easton Utilities is doing everything they can and more to remediate the damages.
“There are minimal requirements by MDE for cleanup efforts and we’ve gone above and beyond that by hiring BP Environmental to continue the mitigation efforts that are already underway,” said Simonsen.
She also indicated she had been on the phone a lot with Tri-State.
“We were grateful for everyone coming together and the fact we live here and everyone is so committed the environment and wildlife in this community,” said Simonsen.
Things went wrong – first with the diesel spill, next with the initial belief by personnel at Easton Utilities that it had been sufficiently cleaned up and then the company’s incorrect information relayed on social media – information that was erroneously reported by some in the media.
Simonsen was forthright about these mistakes.
While nothing can undo the bird deaths and sicknesses that were caused by the diesel spill, hopefully lessons were learned so it doesn’t happen again.
Donna L. Cole is an award-winning investigative and multimedia reporter. She’s also a bird of prey rescuer.
Cover photo by Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research.
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Update – Easton Utilities responded about six hours after this editorial was published.
“Message from John Horner, President and CEO of Easton Utilities:
I sincerely apologize for the fuel spill that entered the Bay Street ponds this week and the impact it caused on our environment and waterfowl. We own this incident, and I take full responsibility. We did not meet our own internal standards and high expectations, especially when it comes to being good stewards of our wonderful community.
Our focus has been on clean-up, remediation, and a full investigation to gather all the facts. We have been working with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) onsite daily to meet the requirements of their comprehensive report, with support from BP Environmental. Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research is treating the impacted birds.
We are grateful to our community partners including Talbot DES, Easton Police Department, Easton Volunteer Fire Department, MDE, Maryland DNR, Waterfowl Festival, Phillips Wharf Environmental, Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, and BP Environmental. I want to thank these agencies for their response and prioritization as we navigate this serious incident.
I also deeply appreciate the customers and neighbors whose awareness holds us accountable. During this event, Easton Utilities has had clear breakdowns in communication, both internally and externally. I am committed to transparency and will provide an update to the Easton Town Council Monday night.
You have my commitment to the full remediation of the Bay Street ponds. I want to close by reiterating my sincere and unreserved apology.”
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Update (2/14/2026) – an oiled Canada goose was found 2/13/2026 and another on 2/14/2026. This brings the total number of oiled birds to 12.
do you know if the female mallards died?? our family loved them and named them and just wanted to know if they were okay
I’m sorry I don’t know.