Diesel Spill Leaks Thousands OF Gallons in To River In Cincinnati (Picture)

Thousands of gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the Ohio River late Monday night during a routine fuel oil transfer at the Duke EnergyW.C. Beckjord Power Station outside of Cincinnati. The spill occurred when a secondary containment unit failed to contain the fuel when it was released due to an open valve. The Coast Guard estimated about 8,000 gallons of fuel spilled out between 11:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., when crews were finally able to contain the discharge.

The Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and Ohio and Kentucky officials responded to the diesel spill by establishing a safety zone on the river to assess the spill and launch cleanup operations. A portion of the river near the spill was closed to vessel traffic for about a 15-mile stretch of the waterway.

Duke Energy has assumed responsibility for spill clean up and has contracted with an approved oil spill response organization to conduct clean up operations, the company said. Currently there are three vessels on scene deploying boom and other containment and clean-up materials and reportedly 2,000 feet of oil containment boom on site MOREHERE