DNR Cleans Up 150 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Following New Madric Co. Truck Accident

First posted on 10-20-2008

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is overseeing the cleanup of up to 150 gallons of diesel fuel lost during a truck accident today in New Madrid County.

The department’s Environmental Emergency Response section was contacted this morning by SEMO Environmental, an environmental cleanup contractor, concerning a tractor-trailer accident on I-55 in New Madrid County that resulted in the release of an estimated 100-150 gallons of diesel fuel and engine oil.

The accident, involving a truck owned by Conway Freight Express, Poplar Bluff, occurred at mile marker 36.6 and resulted in the truck coming to rest in a stream near the highway. The contractor began cleanup efforts with absorbent pads and booms and will be removing an additional 20-30 yards of soil contaminated by the release.

The department dispatched a state on-scene coordinator from its Southeast Regional Office in Poplar Bluff to the site of the accident to oversee the cleanup and provide technical assistance.

Vehicle accidents generally account for approximately 15 percent of the environmental emergency incidents reported to the department, and petroleum products account for about 43 percent of materials released during environmental emergencies.

The department’s Environmental Emergency Response section is called to the scene of more than 300 emergencies each year, including fires, traffic accidents, leaking storage tanks and other incidents that could have a negative environmental impact. The department’s 24-hour spill line receives more than 1,600 incident reports annually.

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the spill line at
573-634-2436. For more information contact the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3443, or visit the department’s Web page at http://www.dnr.mo.gov.