Ritchie Gazette
CAIRO, W.Va. — Last month the environmental crews were called to a remote site near Cairo after four abandoned above-ground storage tanks were found leaking oil into Bear Run, prompting an emergency response from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
According to the DEP’s Office of Oil and Gas, officials were notified of the leak. When an inspector arrived on scene, the tanks were deemed an “immediate threat” to public health and to the waters of the state. With no known responsible party, the situation triggered an emergency cleanup funded through the DEP’s Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund.
After clearing access to the site, they found the tanks contained roughly a foot and a half of heavy sludge and water. A vacuum truck was brought in to pump out the remaining material, and the tanks were removed from the property.
Crews began excavating and removing contaminated soil surrounding the tanks. Officials said the cleanup phase could last another into November, depending on weather conditions and how deep the contamination extends.
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