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Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Barge company cited for Ohio River spill
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 29, 2006) - A Mississippi company has been cited by the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) for polluting the Ohio River at Louisville when a barge spilled asphalt, diesel fuel and heating oil last January.
Magnolia Marine Transport, of Vicksburg, Miss., owned the barge, one of three that broke loose from a tow Jan. 26 near the McAlpine Lock and Dam. The barge lodged against the K&I Railroad bridge and leaked an estimated 200,000 gallons of liquid asphalt, 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 3,000 gallons of heating oil.
The notice of violation (NOV) issued by the DOW alleges the company violated a Kentucky statute and regulations that prohibit water pollution. The NOV also says the company failed to immediately notify the state of the environmental emergency it created, as Kentucky law requires.
A marine salvage company removed remaining material from the barge, which was towed from the bridge last month.
The Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard responded to the emergency.
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