The T/V Posavina oil spill occurred on June 8, 2000 in East Boston, Massachusetts at the Tosco Marine Terminal located in the Chelsea River portion of Boston Harbor. The spill released 59,600 gallons of oil (IFO 380). Calm weather conditions, slow moving tidal currents, and a quick response time resulted in an approximately 89% recovery. Shoreline oiling occurred throughout the Chelsea River, coating areas of rip-rap walls, deteriorated bulkheads, and several relatively small areas of Spartina sp. salt marsh vegetation scattered along the shore. Field surveys and observations made during preassessment activities indicated that approximately five acres of shoreline were oiled, a third of which were estimated to be wetlands and the remainder was man-made structures and highly disturbed.

The Natural Resource Trustees evaluated a range of restoration alternatives which would provide additional resource services to compensate the public for losses pending natural recovery of resources exposed/ or injured by the T/V Posavina oil spill. Potential restoration projects included wetland restoration, bank stabilization, fill removal and enhancement, and debris removal. Two salt marsh restoration projects were selected as the preferred alternatives to compensate for injured natural resources and lost services. The Mill Creek in Chelsea and the Belle Isle Fish Company project in East Boston will result in a total of approximately 2.5 acres of restored salt marsh. The impacts associated with these projects are expected not to be significant.