The following article was written in thestate.com
It could take up to two weeks for environmental cleanup workers to rid a small creek of contaminants from a kerosene spill near Rock Hill’s Confederate Park.
State environmental officials and the federal Environmental Protection Agency will oversee cleanup of the spill at Wilkerson Fuel Co. on Pendleton Street. A contractor, Highlands Environmental Solutions, is expected to monitor affected soil and water for up to three months.
Highlands Environmental Solutions is based in Raleigh, N.C.
Few details have been released about what caused the spill on Sunday. The Herald could not reach Wilkerson Fuel officials on Tuesday. An employee who answered the phone on Tuesday afternoon said the company was “not interested” in commenting.
The kerosene spill apparently originated from an above-ground storage tank, said Jim Beasley, spokesman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Company officials believe about 1,500 gallons were released on Sunday, he said.
Rock Hill police and firefighters responded to the spill. Traffic was blocked for several hours along Pendleton Street, from Annafrel to Confederate streets.
On Monday, contractors arrived to begin cleanup. The work continued on Tuesday around the creek and the Confederate Park area.
Wilkerson Fuel is located about one block from Confederate Park
Federal laws require that the “responsible party” notify DHEC when any spill impacts waterways, Beasley said. In this case, Highlands Environmental Solutions notified environmental officials on Wilkerson’s behalf.
Contact Us:
Highlands Environmental Solutions, Inc. is available to assist with emergency response and general environmental compliance. We are ready to respond should an environmental incident occur. Contact us at 1-855-437-3278 or info@hesnc.com.
