Industrial Waste Investigators with The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) are working to track down the source of an oil sheen on the Mississippi River. MSD was alerted to the sheen, near the base of the Merchant’s Bridge, Monday afternoon. An environmental restoration team was immediately called in, and successfully contained the oily substance in a roughly 1000-square foot area. It will be skimmed off the top and disposed of as soon as possible.
Working together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, MSD investigators were able to identify a sewer interceptor that was blocked, allowing the oily substance to overflow into the river. MSD crews have since removed the blockage, ensuring any additional oily substances in the system will flow to MSD’s nearby wastewater treatment plant, where it can be treated and removed. The sewers in the vicinity will also be cleaned.
The investigation’s focus now shifts to finding the source of the oily substance, which was illegally dumped in the sewers.
MSD’s Industrial Waste Investigation team has developed a list of potential sources in the area, and is now actively inspecting those sources for evidence of illegal dumping. When the source is confirmed, the source will be billed for restoration costs, and could face other penalties as well.
MSD and contractors are working closely with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 On-Scene Coordinator to ensure a swift and thorough resolution.