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FREE ACCESS: Pipeline leaking product into creek near Fillmore
FILLMORE — Local, state and federal emergency agencies are on the scene of a natural gasoline leak that occurred near Fillmore.
By information provided to the Banner Graphic by Darrel Bunten of the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Dispatch was receiving calls around 9:30 p.m. Sunday for an odor of propane in the area of 707 S. CR 525 East.
Firefighters checked houses in the vicinity from east to west and then north toward Fillmore, noticing that the smell dissipated the farther they went. A definite film was found on top of the water in Dyer Creek, which itself feeds into Deer Creek.
Marathon Pipeline was contacted and its Robinson-Indiana-Ohio (RIO) pipeline near the creek was shut down. The company then confirmed that natural gasoline was leaking from the pipeline.
Not to be confused with natural gas, the product leaking into Dyer Creek, natural gasoline, is a liquid with properties more consistent with gasoline than natural gas.
Aside from fish poisoned in the creek, it was determined that fumes killed wildlife including a squirrel and raccoons. Otherwise, no injuries have been reported in connection to the leak and no evacuations have been ordered.
The Putnam County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Environmental Protection Agency were called to the area.
An incident command was established on Monday at the Fillmore Town Hall. A briefing was held in the afternoon with representatives from the agencies listed above, as well as the Putnam County Health Department.
“Air monitoring has been deployed in the area, and no harmful levels of emissions have been detected,” Marathon provided in a statement to the Banner Graphic. “Regulatory notifications have been made and the response is being coordinated with local emergency responders.”
Engineers are now trying to locate the leak and determine how much natural gasoline has been released. Meanwhile, several locations are being monitored, though this is difficult due to natural gasoline being colorless.
Putnam County EMA Director Dave Costin related that the incident would come under the EPA’s purview if at least 10,000 gallons of the natural gasoline has been released.
Crews are staged on County Road 50 South between county roads 475 East and 525 East. The road will be closed indefinitely.