Fuel cleanup continues along North Charleston creek

Environmental impacts are being felt along Filbin Creek in North Charleston following Tuesday night’s tanker fuel spill. More than seven thousand gallons of gasoline and one thousand gallons of kerosene spilled into the creek. Yellow booms line the creek to limit spreading and help absorb the spilt fuel.
Terry Yarborough with the Department of Health and Environmental Control says that while gasoline will volatilize in sunshine and evaporate, kerosene poses a much bigger environmental risk.
“Kerosene has been the big issue. It’s a little heavier and the booms have a difficult time retaining that because of the heavy currents it has a tendency to run under the boom,” explained Yarborough.
Tidal shifts have made things difficult on crews working to cleanup the spill.
“When the tide comes in we try to trap it and vacuum it and when it goes out we try to minimize any escaping,” said Yarborough.
At this time, officials believe that none of the fuel has escaped the creek and worked its way into the Cooper River.
Negative environmental effects are expected to be felt well into the future.
“In the area of high concentration that would be the most stressed area and we would expect some die off of both marine organisms and plant life,“ said Yarborough.
Cleanup is expected to continue into the weekend.