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DEQ Crews Continue Site-Clean Up And Monitoring Near Scottsburg

Submitted by Katherine Benenati
/
DEQ

More than 18,000 tons of soil contaminated with spilled fuel have been taken from a crash site near Scottsburg.  As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, crews are monitoring clean-up following a tanker truck accident late last month.

Investigators with the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) say there’s no risk to people or wildlife.  Crews have been at the site where a truck hit a cow, then a power pole, before turning over on October 22nd. Both the animal and driver died.

About 9,000 gallons of diesel and gasoline were spilled.

Credit Submitted by Katherine Benenati / DEQ
/
DEQ
DEQ investigators examine water in the Umpqua River.

“We’re continuing to have samples taken from the Umpqua River, and at this point, they’re not showing gasoline or diesel," Katherine Benenati of the DEQ says.

"However, we have detected some gasoline and diesel in groundwater in the area, and so we’ve placed some monitoring wells and we’ll continue to take data from those for a longer term look at the impact.

"Drinking water wells in the area have not been impacted.”

The incident happened at Milepost 21 on Highway 38 near Scottsburg. Motorists are advised to visit TripCheck.com for travel conditions near the site.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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