VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A Navy sailor has been charged for his alleged role in a 94,000-gallon (356 cubic meters) fuel spill in Virginia that cost nearly $4 million.
The Navy said in a statement Friday that the unidentified sailor faces charges that include dereliction of duty while making his rounds to check on a pipeline. A special court-martial is expected later this year.
The Navy has said a total of nine sailors will face discipline for the spill at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach.
A switch left in the wrong position sent fuel from a nearby barge into the wrong storage tank, causing it to overflow. About 25,000 gallons (95 cubic meters) poured off the base, killing wildlife and prompting nearby residents to voluntarily leave for as long as two weeks.
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