Staff from DEP's Northeast Regional Underground Storage Tank Program oversaw a major cleanup effort on the Lackawanna River earlier this summer after tens of thousands of gallons of fuel oil spilled into the river from an aboveground storage tank at a nearby building.
DEP Emergency Response team members Bob Bisignani and Shailesh Patel made the initial response and lead the effort to contain the spill to the shoreline and begin the clean-up process.
Underground Storage TankStaffers Sue Thomas, Dave McGovern, Scott Bene and Rebecca Albert followed up the next day to coordinate getting the thick oily product out of the water.
Clean-up crews scooped up mounds of tainted soil and rocks and skimmed oil sheens off of the water. The last part of the job involved steam-cleaning the plants and rocks along the shoreline.
The Underground Storage Tank program is continuing its investigation into the spill.
(Reprinted from the August 7 issue of DEP News. Click Here for past issues or to sign up for your own copy.)