Cleanup efforts are underway in Rio Blanco County after a tanker involved in a single-vehicle accident spilled approximately 220 barrels, roughly 9,250 gallons, of crude oil into the West Douglas Creek along Colorado Highway 139.
The spill occurred Monday between Rangely and Grand Junction, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency press statement sent Thursday morning.
“Crews are currently on site with vacuum trucks to remove as much oil as possible while minimizing impact to the local ecosystem. The spill has been successfully contained within West Douglas Creek,” according to the statement.
The federal environmental agency said spill impacted a U.S. Bureau of Land Management grazing allotment, adding that the “responsible party is providing alternative drinking water for the cattle on the allotment.”
The EPA said there is “no estimate when cleanup will be complete. A damage assessment will occur after initial cleanup to determine any remaining impacts to natural resources.”