Published: November 10, 2009 12:11 am      

Elliott oil spill contained

SANDY HOOK — A crude oil spill in Elliott County on Friday that made its way into an unnamed tributary of the Grayson Lake Reservoir has resulted in significant cleanup actions by company contractors and the Department for Environmental Protection’s Emergency Environmental Response Team.

According to Environment and Energy Cabinet officials, approximately 4,200 gallons of crude oil made its way from Cornerstone Minerals’ Stafford Heirs No. 1 lease, an oil and gas site, to the facility’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure basin. From the basin, the spill made its way into a drainpipe and then into an unnamed tributary of Big Caney Creek. About one half mile of the unnamed tributary was affected.

According to Emergency Response Team manager Robert Francis, two contractors, Weavertown Environmental Group and Hefner Environmental are on site of the spill. A small earthen underflow dam was constructed by Weavertown with state regulators’ oversight.

The spill was contained in the tributary approximately one quarter mile from the confluence of Big Caney Creek, which is a cold water aquatic habitat stream and drains into Grayson Lake Reservoir.

Approximately 5,000 gallons of total liquids have been recovered and 220 tons of contaminated soils have been excavated at the site.

Remediation to end the emergency phase of the incident is ongoing at this time, according to officials.

State regulators have launched an investigation into the spill.