On February 5th, 2000 a 192,000 gallon oil spill occurred on the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (Refuge). One of five Sunoco pipelines located under the eastern end of the Refuge developed a three-inch crack and seeped oil into important habitat for migratory birds, fish and reptiles.

The Refuge, located in Philadelphia and Delaware counties, contains the largest remaining freshwater tidal wetland area in Pennsylvania. The 1000-acre refuge is the habitat of many species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, including the State-listed, threatened red-bellied turtle and endangered coastal plain leopard frog.