It happened: Oil Spill in the Schuylkill River & Schuylkill Banks

Update 1/26: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a press release, stating the ‘”release of an estimated 4,200-gallon heating oil tank located at 2400 Market Street in Philadelphia.” Further, “because of the accumulation of snow in the area, the path to the river has not been determined. It has not yet been confirmed if the path is the result of an overflow on land, or through a storm sewer.” Read the full press release here.

We’ve previously addressed the danger of Oil Trains thisclose to the Schuylkill River Trail that you run by often, but the Schuylkill Banks reported an oil spill today. Specifically, “The City authorities believe it is from a leaking fuel oil tank on the land side of the railroad tracks.” 

According to CBS3, the Coast Guard reported that 4,200 gallons spilled, “with 250 gallons went into the Schuylkill River and 3,950 gallons went onto land near the Schuylkill River Trail.”

So does this affect the trail? Zoe Axelrod from the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) said the following on the situation:

“The Water Department is on the scene evaluating the situation. There is no oil on the trail itself, but a portion of the trail is closed while they evaluate.”

According to Philly Voice, “there are no health concerns,” said Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management.

Looks like it’s time for the city to tighten up their oil spill communications plan…