On April 16, 2009, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) received a complaint of a white steaming material being discharged into Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, (Winnebago County) Wisconsin. WDNR officials confirmed a release of a white soluble material from a storm sewer outfall into Lake Winnebago in the area of 15th and Main Streets. WDNR requested assistance from Oshkosh Fire Department, Oshkosh Public Works, and U.S. EPA. OSC Clayton responded.
Haz-Cat testing and field screening determined the white material to be neutral, with no appreciable volatility. No fish kill or wildlife damage was observed in or around the Lake. Oshkosh firefighters plugged the sewer outfall. The storm sewers throughout the immediate area were checked for the presence of the discharged material. The material was traced through the sewer lines to Blended Waxes, Inc, a nearby industrial facility that manufactures specialty waxes, synthetic greases, and wax emulsions. A process valve malfunction during the previous shift was identified as the cause of the spill. A mix of cooling water and a non-hazardous emulsifier product that normally is discharged to the sanitary sewer was discharged accidentally into the storm sewer.
Blended Waxes hired a plumber to install safeguards to prevent recurrence. Blended Waxes also contracted Chief Industrial Waste to clean the material out of the sewers. Oshkosh Public Works and WDNR oversaw the flushing of the sewer line and the re-opening of the outfall in Lake Winnebago.
WDNR is overseeing Blended Waxes’ corrective actions. WDNR has established a timeline for completion of these actions.
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