Crews continue working at ‘feverous pace’ to clean up fuel spill in Wilmington; 2,000 animals killed

WILMINGTON — UPDATE @ 7:26 p.m. (3/11)

Clean-up efforts are still underway in Clinton County after 23,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled in Wilmington on March 5.

Gurneyville Road remains closed while contractors work on remediation efforts and is expected to be closed until at least the middle of next week, according to a release.

Beginning Monday, March 14, citizen inquiries can be directed to Ohio EPA at (614) 644-2160.

INITIAL REPORT:

Thousands of wildlife have been killed due to a diesel fuel spill in Wilmington over the weekend.

The spill was reported Saturday afternoon at the R+L Carriers property at 600 Gilliam Road. The source was identified and quickly shut down, according to the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency

Crews were continuing clean up efforts for the spill, roughly 35 people were working to clean the spill at on various sites along Dutch Creek.

>> Gas reaches $4 per gallon locally; oil prices continue going up

Crews on scene were able to construct several under flow dams to allow vacuum collection of the fuel on the surface of the creek.

Matt Johannes, of the Clinton County Health District, said diesel fuel is lighter and floats on water and is contained to the creek.

“The majority of the product is believed to be contained on the property and site of the release,” Johannes said.

>> NWS survey confirms EF0 tornado touched-down near Versailles Sunday

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculated 23,000 gallons of fuel was released in the spill, according to our news partners at WCPO-TV. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources confirmed that the spill did kill some of the wildlife in the creek.

According to WCPO, around 2,000 fish, crayfish and frogs were killed.

The EMA said the heavy rain has slowed the clean up process, but that contractors were working at a “feverous pace.”

The U. S. EPA, Ohio EPA, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and numerous contractors are working together on scene.

Duane Weyand, a spokesman for the Clinton County Emergency Management, said efforts are expected to continue for a few more days.

“Clinton County EMA has been in contact with the Ohio EPA and can reaffirm that there are no public drinking water intakes from Dutch Creek, Todd Fork, and the Little Miami River between Wilmington and the Ohio River that are affected,” Weyand said in a release.

©2022 Cox Media Group