Section of Ohio River Closes After Oil Spill

Another tragic oil spill has occurred on an American waterway, causing untold ecological damage and risking the lives of the workers who must now struggle to control the oil before it can seep into the area’s drinking water.

Duke Energy admitted that it spilled almost 5,000 gallons of diesel into the Ohio River near Cincinnati earlier this month.

Ohio and Kentucky officials, along with the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency closed a 15-mile stretch of the river—from mile marker 453, where the spill occurred, to mile marker 468—to facilitate spill assessment and response operations.

Duke Energy has assumed responsibility for the spill, which occurred at one of its substations. The accident happened during what should have been a routine fuel transfer, and oil flowed into the river for 15 minutes before the leak was stopped.

The water quality alert system for the Ohio River was immediately activated, and Cincinnati’s water department shut down drinking water intake valves on that stretch of river shortly after the accident occurred. Clean-up operations were completed in about three days, and luckily, no issues with drinking water have been discovered as yet. Scientists, however, are continuing to monitor the river, since a strong odor of oil has been reported along the waterway.

Federal officials are investigating the scene to identify the cause of what has been classified as a “medium-sized” spill.

Were You Injured in an Oil Spill on a River?

The destruction caused by oil spills can be measured by far more than simple environmental effects. If a worker dealing with an oil spill is injured, it could require expensive medical care and possibly even mean the loss of ability to earn a living. An experienced maritime attorney can help injured maritime workers and their families fight for the compensation they deserve. Visit our Facebook page to share your story, and let us help you.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys

 

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/5k-8k-gallons-fuel-oil-spills-ohio-river-25035571