USCG Takes Action in Ohio Diesel Fuel Spill

The US Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency Region Four and Five as well as Ohio and Kentucky officials are responding to a reported 8,000 gallon diesel spill from the Duke Energy W.C. Beckjord Power Station near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port Ohio Valley has established a safety zone on the Ohio River from mile markers 453 to 468, to facilitate spill assessment and response operations.

Duke Energy has assumed responsibility for spill clean-up and has contracted with an approved oil spill response organization to conduct clean up operations.

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.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders received the initial report at approximately 12:20 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday.

Local, state, and federal officials are on-scene investigating the spill to determine the cause and are supervising the cleanup efforts. Duke Energy has contacted Cincinnati Waterworks and Northern Kentucky Waterworks to address concerns with municipal water intakes.