Environmental cleanup underway after 100 gallons of fuel leaked into O'Hara stream

By Tawnya Panizzi

Environmental cleanup underway after 100 gallons of fuel leaked into O'Hara stream

Containment booms were placed in Sycamore Run early Friday to contain a fuel leak in O'Hara.

Environmental remediation is underway after about 100 gallons of gasoline spilled into an O'Hara stream Friday from a leaking BP tank nearby, officials at the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

Fire crews responded to Fox Chapel Road after several people reported the odor of gasoline near Fox Chapel Plaza.

"DEP worked cooperatively with O'Hara to identify a nearby BP fuel station as the source of the release," DEP communications manager Lauren Camarda said. "The station operator has brought in an environmental cleanup contractor to handle remediation as required."

Township Manager Julie Jakubec said drinking water was not affected.

Camarda said no violations or penalties have been filed at this point. The investigation continues, she said.

Blawnox fire Chief Jeff Stephens said state officials are now in charge of the situation.

His department joined Pleasant Valley volunteer fire company in six hours of cleanup Friday, deploying booms into Sycamore Run, which flows behind the gas station and into the Allegheny River.

Stephens said the spill did not appear to make it to the river.

Hours after the spill, DEP officials oversaw the emptying of the fuel tank and later authorized the station to resume operations, Camarda said.

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