APRIL 4, 2015
CLEVELAND, OHIO
An aerial view of pollution at Forest City Yacht Club in
Cleveland, Saturday, April 4, 2015, allows Coast Guard and other responders to
survey the overall size of the pollution and to ensure it had not spread to
other areas.
Coordinating efforts between responders during cases like
this one is key to mitigating additional spread of pollutants.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Detroit)
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Crews are continuing their investigation and cleanup Sunday
for an unknown substance that was released Friday into Lake Erie at the Forest
City Yacht Club in Cleveland.
The crews are operating under the direction of a unified
command, consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, City of Cleveland Public
Utilities, and Cleveland Public Power.
Cleveland Public Power has accepted the role of responsible
party for the cleanup.
The spilled product coming from an outflow pipe near the
marina appears to have ceased.
Investigators believe the outflow pipe is connected to the
nearby Cleveland Public Power plant and Coast Guard pollution responders have
taken samples to determine if the recovered product matches the product samples
taken from the plant.
As of Saturday evening, two Clean Harbors-operated vacuum
trucks completed work on about 20 feet of shoreline and recovered about 1,500
gallons of contaminated lake water. The protective boom was also repositioned
to account for changing overnight weather conditions.
“We are working closely with our partners in the unified
command to clean up this spill quickly and safely,” said Cmdr. Joe Higgins,
Coast Guard incident commander. “We are pleased with the level of support
received and anticipate that cleanup operations will continue throughout the
day.”
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is responding to
any reports of impacted wildlife.
A pollution responder from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit
Cleveland and a contractor from Clean Harbors remained on scene overnight to
monitor the situation.
The investigation and cleanup operations are ongoing