CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) – Officials say a five-inch pipeline crack caused more than 10,000 gallons of crude oil to leak into a southwestern Ohio nature preserve, which environmentalists say is an example of unexpected hazards of petroleum development in Ohio.
The crack was found on the underside of the 20-inch diameter pipeline, which leaked the oil in the 374-acre Oak Glen Nature Preserve in Colerain Township, just north of Cincinnati, Colerain Township Fire Department Capt. Steve Conn says
Crews continue cleaning up the mess from the leak discovered Tuesday. Officials say about 3,800 gallons of oil and water have been recovered from the leak in a wooded ravine, wetlands, an intermittent stream and a marshy area.
Melanie Houston of the Ohio Environmental Council says it is “disturbing” to see such an accident in an area that preservationists say should be free of oil and gas drilling and infrastructure.
“This demonstrates what are often the external, unrealized and uncaptured costs associated with this industry. Accidents happen like this time and time again, and it’s just really unfortunate to see it in this kind of setting,” she said.
The pipeline dates back to the 1950s and, according to the E-P-A, there are no records of previous problems at the site, but the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says there have been 39 other accidents since 2006 along the pipeline.
The pipeline is part of Mid-Valley Pipeline Co.’s system running nearly 1,000 miles from Texas to Michigan.