Thursday, January 22, 2015

REPORTED CHEMICAL SHEEN ON THE OHIO RIVER NEAR A VALERO TERMINAL



 



REPORTED CHEMICAL SHEEN ON THE OHIO RIVER NEAR A VALERO TERMINAL



January 19, 2015

Firefighters and other officials are assessing the size and source of a reported chemical sheen on the Ohio River reported this morning by Valero, which operates the former Chevron terminal on Bells Lane in Rubbertown.

Valero crews reported the sheen to authorities this morning, but a company spokesman said it was not the source because a similar sheen has been found upriver.

The Kentucky Division of Water, the U.S. Coast Guard, Metropolitan Sewer District and the U,S. Environmental Protection Agency have been notified, said Jodi Duncan, spokeswoman for Louisville's MetroSafe. She said Lake Dreamland Fire Department was first notified about 9:35 a..m, and that Pleasure Ridge Fire Department was also called in, along with the Louisville Fire Department, which is bringing in a boat to survey the river.

Lake Dreamland reports that there is no active leak at Valero, she said.

She said there is a possibility that a barge passing through the area may have been the source.

The sheen gathered along the bank of the river, extending out for about two feet, she said.

The hazmat incident was classified as Level 1, the lowest in severity.