MONROE COUNTY, Mich. — The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) provided an update on the cleanup of last month’s diesel fuel spill at a gas station in Ottawa Lake in Monroe County.
The leak occurred at the Pilot travel center gas station and eventually sent the fuel into Tenmile Creek.
On Tuesday, the EPA issued a press release correcting the amount of total liquids, including diesel, that had been recovered. According to the updated, corrected press release, 24,439 gallons of diesel had been recovered. In total 601,621 gallons of liquids involved in the spill had been recovered.
According to the EPA, the earlier numbers had been incorrectly produced due to an error in the way Pilot measured and reported daily quantities to the EPA on April 8.
The EPA says all collected fuel and fuel/water mixture will be disposed of properly.
In addition, the EPA says they are almost done cleaning storm sewers.
Booms, which help spills from spreading in waterways are still being maintained in North Tenmile Creek.
Crews have also been working to remove contaminated vegetation, having completed the task downstream from the spill to Consear Road.
In addition, private water sampling is continuing in area’s close to the spill site.
The Excavation and remediation of Tenmile Creek between US 23 and US 223 is likely to begin on Tuesday.
As of Sunday evening, diesel fuel remained unavailable at the Pilot travel center location according to the company's website.
You can read more about the EPA's progress in cleaning up the spill here.
Editor's note: This story has been edited to include data from the EPA that corrected previously incorrect information from the agency.
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