Petroleum Incident in Eureka

A new hazardous materials incident involving petroleum has been reported to the California Office of Emergency Services.

According to a report published by the office, the incident took place at or near a road in Eureka at around 12:30 a.m. today.

About nine gallons of a substance described as “mineral oil (unknown pcbs)” were released to the environment, according to the person who called in the report.

Here’s the description of the incident that was recorded by the Office of Emergency Services:

RP states that a small pickup truck hit the pole causing the transformer to release the oil. A storm drain was impacted that leads to the Martin Slough. A contractor will conduct cleanup.

PER NRC REPORT "CALLER IS REPORTING A RELEASE OF AN UNKNOWN CONCENTRATION OF PCB MINERAL OIL ONTO THE GROUND AND INTO A STORM DRAIN THAT LEADS INTO MARTIN SLOUGH. CALLER REPORTS THAT THE RELEASE WAS FROM A POLE TOP TRANSFORMER THAT WAS HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK DUE TO OPERATOR ERROR."

This was the 15th hazardous materials incident recorded by the Office of Emergency Services in the Eureka area this year and the 49th petroleum spill in the county overall.