Authorities: Noli Eileen Apparently Clean

More than a week since a fishing boat sank in Huntington Harbor, there remains no set plan for removal of the craft which poses no immanent environmental hazard to the area, according to several authorities monitoring the situation.

"When the boat sank, in addition to putting out the booms to contain the oil and fuel, we notified the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Coast Guard," said Town information officer A.J. Carter on Friday. "They would tell us if there is any environmental issue.'

Carter said quotes are being reviewed for removal of the boat that . He did not disclose a possible extraction date.

Hydraulic oil and fuel estimated to total about 15 gallons were present on the boat at the time it went down, according to the boat's owner, Peter Gens of Kings Park.

As of Friday, neither the Coast Guard or the NYSDEC has deemed the 56-foot Noli Eileen to be environmentally unsafe.

"Our staff is not aware of any very recent inquiries regarding a sunken vessel in Huntington, although there was such an inquiry on July 5," said Lori Severino, a press officer with the NYSDEC.

Severino said the Coast Guard will take the lead in addressing sunken vessels if there is evidence of an environmental hazard or a navigational hazard such as danger to other vessels using a waterway.

"In situation where neither problem exists, i.e. the vessel is located where it is out of the way and there is no spill or discharge, it is possible that the Coast Guard would not assert jurisdiction, and would leave the situation to the locals," said Severino.

That seems to be the case with the Noli Eileen.

When contacted by Patch Friday, Coast Guard Petty Officer Russell Wolfe of Sector Long Island Sound in New Haven, Conn., said salvage of the boat is up to the Town of Huntington or the boat's owner.

A marine preamble radio broadcast alerting mariners to the existence of the sunken boat is being issued by the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channels 16 and 22A.

Gens was including pollution of waterways, unseaworthy vessel and an expired mooring permit. He was given three days to correct the situation by a July 5 notice of violation from the Town Bay Constables, according to Town officials.

Gens was unavailable for comment Friday.