ɪn ɪts fˈɜːst jˈɪɹ ʌv ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən, ðə sˈɪstəm ɹᵻtɹˈiːvd ɚɹˈaʊnd fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɡˈælənz ʌv ˈɔɪl; ðə kˈoʊst ɡˈɑːɹd kənsˈɪdɚz ɐ ɹᵻlˈiːs ʌv wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɡˈælənz ʌv ˈɔɪl ɪn kˈoʊstəl wˈɔːɾɚz ˈeɪ "spˈɪl ʌv nˈæʃənəl sɪɡnˈɪfɪkəns."
In its first year of operation, the system retrieved around 400,000 gallons of oil; the Coast Guard considers a release of 100,000 gallons of oil in coastal waters a "spill of national significance."