US 51 Remains Closed from Patoka to Vernon

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Published on June 30 2014 3:25 am
Last Updated on June 30 2014 3:25 am
Written by Greg Sapp

U. S. 51 from the Kinoka Road to Vernon remains closed today as a cleanup continues from the spill of an estimated 500 barrels of crude oil at the Patoka Tank Farm that is just east of the highway.

Marathon Pipeline Company spokesperson Angela Graves reports they requested U. S. 51 be shutdown as a precaution because of some of the chemical odors given off by the crude oil that could make someone ill. She says Marathon's operations at the tank farm have been shut down until there is an investigation into what caused the spill.

Graves says the initial work was to contain the spill.

"We have a response team that will be there to do various clean-up activities from removing the material in the ditch to potentially excavating some of the soil in the area that has been impacted," said Graves.

Graves says an official of the EPA is on scene monitoring the clean-up.

"We have established a safe zone around the actual incident. Of course, our responders will be wearing the appropriate safety equipment to go in and do the clean-up," said Graves. "We have also taken the precautionary measure of shutting down the highway there probably through this evening just until we can get the clean-up underway."

U. S. 51 has been shut down between the Kinoka Road in Patoka and Vernon until further notice. Northbound truck traffic is being diverted onto U. S. 50 to Interstate 57, while southbound truck traffic is being diverted onto Route 185 to Farina and I-57.

Graves reports air testing has indicated there is no need to evacuate any residents in the area.

The Marion County Sheriff's Department, Patoka Fire Department and Emergency Services and Disaster Area all assisted in shutting down traffic on U. S. 51. Many were released early Sunday afternoon after the Illinois Department of Transportation put up barricades. Marathon officials asked for the highway to be shutdown around 7:30 Sunday morning. Reports of oil in the roadside ditch began coming in during the overnight hours.