Did you even hear?

Philadelphia area has had not one, but two oil spill accidents in the past week.

On Monday, over 1000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the Delaware River. According to Philadelphia Business Journal, the spill happened near the Monroe Energy (owned by Delta Airlines) oil refinery in Delaware County when workers were moving the oil from a boat. The oil in the river is terrible as it will spread and disperse in the water.

Last week, a 101-car CSX train from Chicago derailed on the Schuylkill Arsenal Railroad bridge over the Schuylkill river by South Street Bridge from University City to Grays Ferry. Six of the train cars carried crude oil, shutting down I-76 for two hours. According to Protecting Our Waters, similar trains have derailed and exploded 4 times in the past 8 months, which  make them a huge safety hazard.

Considering that a derailed train in Paulsoboro, NJ made national news after leaking vinyl chloride, environmentally hazardous spills and accidents are no distant threat to our area.

However, local coverage of fossil fuel accidents seems to be minimal. According to Sandy Bauers, Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Deborah Fries said on Wednesday that the majority of the oil was cleaned up.  Yet there haven’t been official statements of what will prevent future spills, as well as any action from our local governments to penalize companies for these spills.

After President Obama stated that Climate Change is a fact during Tuesday’s State of the Union address, we should probably initiate more opportunities to safeguard our land, water and air. AKA take more stringent steps when accidents occur, and invest in local, cleaner energy.

Who’s listening, Philly?!

Photo: Protecting Our Waters

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher