Site Update 3-19-2025:
To date, EPA has recovered approximately 100,000 gallons of oil and
oil-contaminated water from the spill. This oil/water mixture is being staged
in frac tanks on site for transportation to an approved disposal facility. The Wabash
Cannonball Trail continues to be closed from the Whitehouse fire station to
Cemetery Road while equipment and trucks are using it to access the spill.
Current operations in this area include power washing riverbanks and culverts
to collect and remove any residual oil. Excavation of the impacted soil and
vegetation will be done as needed. Residents should stay out of sectioned off
areas.
Site
Update 3-14-2025:
EPA’s
assessment of water, sediment and soil samples is complete. Preliminary sample
results show the presence of hydraulic oil and polychlorinated biphenyls, or
PCBs, at very low levels in the oil, and at almost non-detectable levels in the
soil and sediments of the drainage ditch along the trail. Because of these
results (located on the map in the website’s documents section), EPA will
continue to collect oil in the waterway and continue the oil cleanup in the
ditch along the trail, where needed. During cleanup, the area will remain
closed to the public and EPA recommends residents stay out of the trail ditch
and Blue and Swan Creeks. The agency anticipates cleanup will take up to two
weeks to complete.
EPA
has installed collection structures to collect any contamination runoff in the
event of rain or other weather. These collection structures have been placed
along multiple points from the site of the oil spill to Blue Creek. EPA has
begun collecting oil from puddles and waterways and placing it into large tanks
to be sent to an approved disposal facility.
Residents
will see increased truck traffic and crews working in the streams and along the
banks. Excavation of some oil along the ditch is anticipated. Residents should
stay out of sectioned off areas.
Site Update 3-13-2025:
The agency is making modifications on-site and in the ditch along the trail to prepare for anticipated heavy rain this weekend. The Wabash Cannonball Trail continues to be closed from the Whitehouse fire
station to Cemetery Road while equipment and trucks are using the trail to
access the spill. Residents should avoid the area while EPA is conducting
work. EPA continues to assess water, sediment and soil samples to
determine the extent of contamination and potential impacts to Blue Creek and
Swan Creek. EPA is analyzing the oil to determine the full scope of the
cleanup.
Site Update 3-12-2025:
The Wabash Cannonball Trail continues to be closed from the Whitehouse fire
station to Cemetery Road while equipment and trucks are using the trail to
access the spill. Residents should avoid the area while EPA is conducting
work. EPA continues to assess water, sediment and soil samples to
determine the extent of contamination and potential impacts to Blue Creek and
Swan Creek. EPA is analyzing the oil to determine the full scope of the cleanup.
Site Update 3-11-2025:
EPA continues to collect and assess water, sediment and soil samples to determine the extent of contamination and potential impacts to Blue Creek and Swan Creek. The Wabash Cannonball Trail continues to be closed from the Whitehouse fire station to Cemetery Road while equipment and trucks are using the trail to access the spill. Residents should avoid the area while EPA is recovering oil and installing structures to prevent migration downstream. Residents should report sheens in Blue or Swan Creek to local authorities.
Site Update 3-10-2025:
EPA continues to recover oil in Blue Creek and Swan Creek after the spill last
week. Over the weekend, additional containment boom, used to control the spread
of oil, was installed in Swan Creek at Stitt Road and Keener Road to prevent
any migration of oil downstream. Residents may see crews in the waterway
evaluating shorelines and vegetation for potential impacts and removing any
pockets of oil. The Wabash Cannonball Trail continues to be closed from the
Whitehouse fire station to Cemetery Road while equipment and trucks are using
the trail to access the spill.
Site Update 3-9-2025:
Today, EPA asked the Whitehouse Fire Department to close the walking path behind the fire station to Cemetery Road where operations are continuing. EPA vehicles and equipment are using this section of the path to clean up material in the waterway. EPA continues to work with local officials to determine the scope of the release. Any observable sheens in Swan Creek should be reported to local authorities.
Background:
On March 6, the Whitehouse, Ohio, Fire Department responded to an oil release at a factory on Waterville Road. The fire department placed several oil collection booms in Swan Creek to control the flow of oil beyond Monclova Road (near the fire station). On March 7, the department requested U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assistance with the hydraulic oil spill. EPA has crews working on-site in Blue Creek and in Swan Creek to stop any additional oil from flowing further downstream. There is an on-going rainbow sheen that continues from the confluence of Blue Creek and Swan Creek that is not collectible due to the velocity of the flowing water.
