Oil spills into Connie Creek, canoe launches closed
FORWARD TWP — An apparent oil spill Thursday, Sept. 8, that originated at the former Armco and AK Steel Plant 2 in Butler closed at least two Allegheny Aquatic Alliance canoe and kayak launches along the Connoquenessing Creek on Saturday, Sept. 10.
A state Department of Environmental Protection official, several representatives of the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, Professional Enterprises Inc. cleanup crews and the landowner in the area of the cleanup were at the site of the Eckstein Road Canoe Launch on Saturday, where several “booms,” or lines stretched across the creek containing oil-absorbant pads, were placed.
Jake Bamberger, co-owner of CERTA of Cincinnati, which owns the former Plant 2 site on Bantam Avenue, said old underground tanks containing oil had been pumped out previously, and workers were pumping out residual oil remaining in the pipes connecting the plants when some of the oil entered a nearby storm drain that empties into the creek.
Bamberger said a minimal amount of oil entered the creek, and Professional Enterprises Inc. of Karns City was called in to do the cleanup.
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