The cleanup of more 50 gallons of fuel oil spilled in the waters off the Water and Power Authority’s Estate Richmond dock was 85 percent completed by Friday morning, WAPA reported.
"Crews worked throughout the night to remove spilled oil from both the waters around the fuel dock where the greater volume of oil existed and along the shore line between the power plant and Estate Watergut," according to WAPA Acting Chief Executive Officer Julio Rhymer.
Rhymer estimated that by sunset Friday the cleanup would be completed. He said throughout the evening on Thursday, crews placed absorbent pads and other materials along the shoreline to capture the oil that formed a light sheen on the water surface. A containment boom and similar absorbent materials were used around the fuel dock to remove the spilled oil.
The authority said oil/water separation equipment at the power plant became overwhelmed, causing the spill late Thursday morning and is working to determine why the system failed.
WAPA is working alongside the United States Coast Guard and other federal and local government regulatory agencies during the cleanup operation.
