U.S. EPA Overseeing Ohio River Oil Spill Cleanup
An Aug. 19 photo from the U.S. EPA shows booms being deployed to contain oil spilled from Duke Energy’s W.C. Beckjord plant along the Ohio River. The diesel oil spill was reported late Aug. 18.
Following a late night Aug. 18 oil spill at the Duke Energy W.C. Beckjord Station, the U.S. EPA reports excellent progress.
The U.S. EPA is heading cleanup of the spill, which dumped 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel into the Ohio River about 20 miles east of Cincinnati. Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, U.S. EPA has the responsibility for inland oil spills.
Also helping in the efforts are the U.S. Coast Guard, the Ohio EPA, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection and Pierce Township, Ohio. U.S. EPA is also directing and overseeing all Duke Energy’s response efforts.
The EPA reports that heavy rains Aug. 19 washed oil from the river banks into six collection points along the river between New Richmond, Ohio, and the Interstate 471 bridge.
Responders are taking a phased approach –first recovering oil from the river and then cleaning up the shoreline. So far, approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel and contaminated water have been recovered.
Most of the sheen between New Richmond and Cincinnati has dissipated, but sheen is still visible on the Cincinnati side of the river.
The oil spill has had minimal impact on wildlife and the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the river to vessel traffic Aug. 19.
Drinking water intakes have been reopened in the Greater Cincinnati area and Northern Kentucky. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission is conducting water sampling on the river.
Twenty-four hour operations are underway to contain and clean up oil along a 12 mile stretch of the Ohio River immediately upstream from Cincinnati.
To stay abreast of the spill, visit epa.gov/region5/newsevents/duke-energy-spill/.
Tags: Duke Energy, Ohio, Oil Spill, U.S. EPA
