Video and photos of cleanup operations are available.
PHILADELPHIA — The Coast Guard and partner agencies continue to respond to a diesel fuel spill Thursday in the Schuylkill River near the 2400 block of Market Street in Philadelphia.
On-scene cleanup crews have recovered 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel from the river.
Equipment being used includes two vacuum trucks, two oil skimmers, 1,800 feet of oil absorbent boom and a 42-foot boat, which deployed 1,500 feet of oil containment boom.
“We continue to work together as a unified command,” said Capt. Benjamin Cooper, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay. “We now believe a majority of the 4,200 gallons of diesel fuel entered the river through a drainage pipe. We are working with our federal, state and local partners to conduct cleanup operations and minimize environmental impacts.”
A sensor malfunction on an emergency generator at a CenturyLink facility caused an overflow of approximately 4,200 gallons of diesel fuel.
The Schuylkill River trail remains closed from Chestnut Street to Locust Street during cleanup operations. The trail is open to the public in the evening following daily cleanup operations.
The Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation.
Agencies involved:
- Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
- Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
- Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
- Philadelphia Fire Department
- Philadelphia Water Department
- CSX
- CenturyLink
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