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Shoreline clean up is next in diesel fuel spill

By the end of the day Wednesday or possibly Thursday, the EPA says the "recoverable" portion of Monday's New Richmond diesel fuel spill will have been captured by booms. As of Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. 1,000  gallons had been recovered.

Duke Energy says that during a routine transfer of fuel oil at its Beckjord Power Plant approximately 5,000 gallons of fuel was inadvertently discharged into the Ohio River. This caused Greater Cincinnati communities along the Ohio to close their water intake valves.

The next step is shoreline clean up. EPA On-Scene Coordinator Steve Renninger says, "Probably downstream of Coney Island we saw a couple of pockets of 100 yard banks, that probably needs to be cleaned up and assessed."  He likened it to a bathtub ring.

By boat and by helicopter the EPA and ORSANCO are monitoring clean up efforts. Renninger said Wednesday's conditions are an "excellent improvement" over Tuesday. He reports the only wildlife problem cleanup crews reported was oil on a beaver.

ORSANCO is in touch with Lousiville, but Renninger said he doesn't anticipate that city closing its valves.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.