Oil released into Flat Branch Creek
Published July 11, 2007
An MU power plant transformer overheated Sunday evening and 50 to 70 gallons of mineral oil boiled out and entered Flat Branch Creek, according to a news release. A Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental Specialist, who was walking on the MKT Nature/Fitness Trail, discovered the spill and reported it, according to the release.
The Columbia Fire Department responded immediately to locate the source of the spill and to contain it.
"(Sunday) night, when we arrived, we deployed our hazmat booms on the surface to contain the oil," said Capt. Rick Douglas, Columbia Fire Department spokesman. "The booms are about a quarter mile down from the initial spill where we contained. We put them across where there was clean water."
The booms float and gather contaminants, such as oils or gasoline, and allow them to gather into a pool for collection, the news release states.
Douglas said even though the booms are absorbent, they will not absorb all of the oil that was spilled into the creek.
"The objective is to keep the oil contained and pool it together so that it can be removed," he said.
Following the initial response, MU Campus Facilities coordinated the cleanup operation with assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The cleanup operation was completed in about 24 hours.
"They completed the cleanup (Monday) evening, although they are going to leave a few booms across the Branch as a precaution," Campus Facilities Director Phil Shocklee said.
Shocklee said throughout the operation, the booms had been changed several times to ensure that they would not allow any oil to continue downstream.
Shocklee said the oil had entered the creek from the power plant.
"The oil spilled out of the transformer and entered a storm sewer near the power plant and the storm sewer it entered empties into the Flat Branch," he said.
Brad Harris, a specialist from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental, said there will be no serious effect on the environment as a result of this spill.
"Other than just the immediate impact to Flat Branch Creek, there is no indication of damage to environment," he said. "There is always a concern that a petroleum spill will lead to the killing of aquatic life, but there have been no signs of fish dying or any other adverse effects in Flat Branch Creek."
Harris said the quick actions of Columbia Fire Department helped prevent a much larger problem.
"When you look at the aggressive actions of the Columbia Fire Department to deploy the hazmat-absorbent booms quickly and contain the spill, it helps minimize environmental issues."