Gas leaked into river contained to marina

No danger to public, mayor says

A gas leak into the Vermilion River is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard who says it’s contained.

The U.S. Coast Guard is leading an investigation into a gas leak on the Vermilion River.

As of late afternoon Aug. 20, the cleanup effort continued at Valley Harbor Marina, 1295 W. River Road in Vermilion, according to the Coast Guard.

Although gas still was leaching into the river, the fuel was contained by an absorbent boom and the Vermilion River is not closed, said Lt. Ryan Junod of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Cleveland.

“Although oil is still making it into the water, it is being well contained within a boom to the local marina right there,” Junod said.

The Coast Guard first received a report of the leak about mid-day Aug. 17, he said.

Environmental Management Services is the oil spill response organization working to clean the fuel.

It appeared a petroleum product was leaking from an underground storage tank or pipes, out a seawall into the river, Junod said.

The exact of the spill cause remains under investigation, and it appeared the material is gasoline, although it will be tested to confirm that, he said.

The primary focus is to find the source, stop the leak and prevent it from happening again, Junod said.

As of Aug. 20, there were no reports of injuries to people or wildlife due to the situation, he said.

The marina owner is responsible for cleaning up the spill, Junod said.

“We do not believe anything to be intentional at this time,” he said. “It wasn’t like they dumped a tank of gas into the river.”

Even so, the incident remains an ongoing investigation, Junod said, so he would not rule out enforcement action if needed.

Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer said the Vermilion Fire Department also notified the Erie County Emergency Management Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency about the situation.

The cleanup efforts continue and there is no danger to the public, the mayor said.

When reached by telephone, a worker at Valley Harbor Marina said the business leaders were out working on the spill and unavailable for immediate comment.

“We do not believe anything to be intentional at this time.” — Lt. Ryan Junod of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Cleveland