Clean-up under way following fuel spill in Hecker
An environmental contracting firm is working under the observation of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to finalize clean-up of between 2,500 and 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel following a spill that occurred Monday at Gregson Trucking, located at 7564 State Route 156 in Hecker.
The scene at Gregson Trucking on Friday following a Monday diesel fuel spill. (Alan Dooley photo)There was no immediate threat to public safety or wildlife resulting from the spill, IEPA Emergency Response Unit Manager Yeric Yarrington told the Republic-Times.
Yarrington said the incident occurred when a truck was unloading fuel into a stationary above-ground tank at the business and the side of the tank apparently failed, releasing fuel onto the ground and into a ditch, also leaking into a small nearby pond.
This week, the contracting firm has used a vacuum truck to pick up any free standing liquid, and also dug up impacted soil. Absorbent materials are also being used to soak up the spilled fuel.