CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – “On Sunday, May 21, 2023, an oil spill was reported in the Spangler area in the headwaters of Blue Creek. A valve was found opened on a crude oil storage tank, and potentially several thousand gallons of crude oil spilled down the hillside and into Blue Creek.
Officials with Cedar Grove VFD, WV DEP and Kanawha County Emergency Management responded to the call of a possible spill and an odor. They found the tank located on Spangler Road and were able to close the valve immediately.
WV DEP Hazardous Materials Response and Oil and Gas Inspectors went to the scene and are coordinating with the well/tank owners on the clean-up. Booms have been placed in several locations, and heavy equipment has been moved in to clean up the oil.
WV American Water was notified and sent a representative to the site and are monitoring the river.
Kanawha County Emergency Management officials checked the streams multiple times on Sunday and again Monday, and they are not seeing any product in the water.
Officials checked from Sanderson and downstream to the confluence with the Elk River, and they did not notice any sheens or other visible evidence. There are no odors, no fish kills or any other dead aquatic life.
At this time, officials do not believe there is any harm to the public or wildlife in the area.
The Kanawha County Commission asks that Emergency Management officials keep an eye on the situation until all clean up measures have been completed.
The Commissioners would like to thank all officials from Cedar Grove VFD, WV DEP, and KCEM for their quick response and efforts to keep the public safe.
Kanawha County’s spring trout release was originally supposed to take place today, May 22, but through an abundance of caution after the spill, it was postponed. Now, after all assessments have been made, the trout release will take place tomorrow, May 23 in Clendenin.
Officials with the Kanawha County Commission and the town of Clendenin will begin stocking the Elk River at the Public Water Access at 9am, May 23. Then, there will be more trout stocking in Blue Creek.”