Chicago's iconic Chicago River has been marred by a massive oily asphalt spill that has left environmentalists and officials scrambling to mitigate the damage, almost nine months after it first occurred. Nearly half a million gallons of liquid asphalt were released into the river from Petroleum Fuel and Terminal Co., a Forest View business operating along the Sanitary and Ship Canal.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been overseeing the removal of nearly two tons of oil-based asphalt, which is expected to be completed soon. However, the company responsible for the spill, Apex Oil Co., which owns Petroleum Fuel and Terminal, has not faced any penalties or fines despite a prolonged delay in issuing any enforcement actions.
The incident has sparked outrage among environmentalists, who argue that stronger preventative measures should have been in place to prevent such a disaster. Cameron Davis, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and a former EPA official, called for greater accountability from companies like Apex Oil Co., which is now required to modify its safety practices to avoid future spills.
The spill has had devastating consequences for wildlife, including baby ducks and water snakes that were found covered in the oily substance. The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center treated, cleaned, and released dozens of animals affected by the spill, but many experts warn that the full extent of the damage may not be known for months or even years to come.
The incident has also raised concerns about human health, as people who fish in the canal and eat what they catch may be at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Illinois public health officials already warn about the dangers of eating fish due to contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, which are present in the canal and Chicago River.
As the cleanup continues, local officials and advocacy groups are pushing for greater transparency and accountability from companies like Apex Oil Co. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is also working to ensure that the canal's shoreline is cleaned up, despite the fact that some politicians have called for the canal to be used for recreational purposes.
The incident has highlighted the need for stronger regulations and safety protocols to prevent such disasters in the future. With millions of gallons of wastewater flowing through the canal every day, the potential risks are significant, and officials must take swift action to protect both human health and the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been overseeing the removal of nearly two tons of oil-based asphalt, which is expected to be completed soon. However, the company responsible for the spill, Apex Oil Co., which owns Petroleum Fuel and Terminal, has not faced any penalties or fines despite a prolonged delay in issuing any enforcement actions.
The incident has sparked outrage among environmentalists, who argue that stronger preventative measures should have been in place to prevent such a disaster. Cameron Davis, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and a former EPA official, called for greater accountability from companies like Apex Oil Co., which is now required to modify its safety practices to avoid future spills.
The spill has had devastating consequences for wildlife, including baby ducks and water snakes that were found covered in the oily substance. The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center treated, cleaned, and released dozens of animals affected by the spill, but many experts warn that the full extent of the damage may not be known for months or even years to come.
The incident has also raised concerns about human health, as people who fish in the canal and eat what they catch may be at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Illinois public health officials already warn about the dangers of eating fish due to contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, which are present in the canal and Chicago River.
As the cleanup continues, local officials and advocacy groups are pushing for greater transparency and accountability from companies like Apex Oil Co. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is also working to ensure that the canal's shoreline is cleaned up, despite the fact that some politicians have called for the canal to be used for recreational purposes.
The incident has highlighted the need for stronger regulations and safety protocols to prevent such disasters in the future. With millions of gallons of wastewater flowing through the canal every day, the potential risks are significant, and officials must take swift action to protect both human health and the environment.
? Like, I know accidents happen but come on! Almost a year after the spill and still no one's been held accountable 
? It's just not right. And what really gets my goat is that it's not like Apex Oil Co. didn't see this coming 
. I mean, who doesn't know that asphalt can be toxic to wildlife? But apparently they were too busy lining their pockets to care about the environment 
. We need to make some real changes around here and get those regulations strengthened ASAP 
. I'm talking safety protocols for every facility, regular inspections, the whole nine yards 
. Can't let companies like Apex Oil Co. just sweep this under the rug and expect everything to be okay 
. We need transparency and accountability, stat! 
]
]
]
]
it's heartbreaking. plus, people who fish in the canal and eat what they catch are at risk of toxic chemicals too... 
like, how can we just ignore this?! we need stronger regulations and safety protocols ASAP! 
. I get that they're supposed to modify their safety practices now, but what about the damage that's already been done? The wildlife is still suffering, and who knows how long it'll take for us to know the full extent of the harm? 
. And on top of that, there are concerns about human health too... like, people actually eating fish from this canal without knowing they might be poisoned by toxic chemicals? No thanks! 
We need stronger regulations and better safety protocols in place to prevent these kinds of disasters in the future. This is just a mess 
.
I'm really worried about this whole situation with the Chicago River spill 
. It's unacceptable that a company like Apex Oil Co. can operate without facing any real consequences for this disaster 
. We need stricter regulations in place to prevent these kinds of spills from happening again, not just for the environment but also for public safety.
. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is doing some good work on cleanup efforts, but we need more support and resources to ensure that our waterways are safe for everyone 
. It's a huge job ahead of us, but if we work together, I'm confident we can make a real difference 
.
. While I get it, we need to make sure our waterways are clean and safe first before we start thinking about recreation. It's not a matter of one or the other – we need both! 
and the people who might be exposed to toxic chemicals through fishing or eating contaminated fish... it's just heartbreaking. we need to make sure our leaders are prioritizing environmental protection over corporate interests 
I'm so frustrated with the delay in issuing penalties to Apex Oil Co. for this massive spill! 
It's like they think they can just sweep it under the rug and get away with it. The fact that nearly half a million gallons of oily asphalt were released into the Chicago River is just devastating, especially for the wildlife that got affected 
?! 
. and the company's not even facin' any fines yet? 
mercury levels in the canal have been found to be 20x higher than safe limits 
. The fact that they had to wait months before taking action is just insane 
#TransparencyMatters #AccountabilityNow
. We need to make sure something like this never happens again. Stronger regulations and safety protocols are a must 
. I'm also worried about people eating fish from the canal, exposure to toxic chemicals is a real risk 
This is a massive fail on multiple fronts. I mean, nearly half a million gallons of oily asphalt just spilling into the Chicago River? That's like a ticking time bomb for wildlife and humans alike. And what really gets my goat is that the company responsible isn't even facing any penalties or fines. Two tons of oil-based asphalt being removed after almost nine months? That's like a slap on the wrist. 
.
.
.
.
it's all so frustrating...