Buddelmeyer said investigators are still determining both who might be responsible and the source of the kill, but believe it to be petroleum-based. The investigation is expected to continue for at least one to two weeks.
“They’ll possibly be criminal charges or restitution,” Buddelmeyer said. “We’re still trying to develop who the suspect or suspects are at this point.”
R.D. Holder officials declined to comment on Wednesday afternoon, but they have said the site contained only lubricants and no fuel products.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency found evidence of a release of ethylene glycol into the tributary before safeguards such as a dams and booms were put in place, spokeswoman Heather Lauer said. Ethylene glycol is often used in antifreeze and is known to kill fish.
The substance left the tributary hours after entering the water, she said.
Several species of fish died in the tributary, including bass, catfish, suckers, sunfish and darters, and amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. Several crayfish also died in the tributary.
The area where the deaths occurred spans several miles, beginning at Detrick Jordan Pike and ending at Folk Ream Road.
A formula is used to figure restitution costs that includes a dollar amount set for each type of species killed, Buddelmeyer said, as well as investigative expenses.
It has been determined that three other sites under investigation in Montgomery County, including an 11,000 fish kill at Little Beaver Creek in Kettering in the Little Miami River watershed, aren’t connected to the oil company fire.
On April 19, about 50 agencies responded to the fire at the Holder company. The fire was sparked by static electricity when employees transferred a liquid into a tanker, and burned for more six hours.
Several crews placed a boom and a dam in the creek to protect it from runoff during the fire, but not before the chemical likely got in the water, Lauer said.
Holder also installed concrete pads and a dike to capture the lubricating oil runoff during a catastrophe.
The EPA had said on Monday the safeguards contained any liquid not burned off. The EPA also had no other plans for additional water and groundwater sampling because there’s no other concern for residents in the area.
Holder has temporarily relocated its headquarters to its Bellefontaine office.
Several fire departments lost thousands of dollars worth of equipment during the blaze.
Jennifer Cotterman, the Bethel Twp. Fire Department assistant fire chief, estimated it lost close to $6,000 to $7,000 worth of equipment, including an unmanned deck gun, hose, a saw and other fire gear.
Lisa D’Allessandris, the Clark County Emergency Management Agency Director, said she expects to have all of the damage estimates from the participating agencies gathered by May 4.
The loss of equipment won’t disrupt day-to-day operations in Bethel Twp., Cotterman said.
“Fire departments are pretty flexible,” she said. “We can work around anything.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0366.
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