The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded to an oil spill in Fall Creek in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana on May 18, 2011. The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requested assistance from EPA.
The spill occurred at approximately 0900 hours on May 18, 2011 when an excavator, owned by Atlas Excavating, tipped over into Fall Creek, discharging approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil. Atlas hired Industrial Service Group (ISG) as their spill response contractor.
EPA, IDEM, and MCPHD observed sheen at multiple downstream locations on Fall Creek and several miles downstream in the White River in downtown Indianapolis.
Response operations will include placing containment and sorbent boom to contain oil and sheen; recovering oil with a vacuum truck; and righting the excavator with a crane and removing it from the creek.
