At least 1,000 gallons of oil spill into N. Carolina river

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – At least 1,000 gallons of petroleum fuel has spilled into a river in North Carolina.

The Asheville-Citizen Times reports authorities warn people to stay out of the French Broad River following Sunday’s spill in Asheville. North Carolina Division of Waste Management spokeswoman Laura Leonard says the oil spilled from an above-ground storage tank at the Mountain Energy Bulk Fuel Facility, around 100 feet (30 metres) from the river.

Asheville Fire Department spokeswoman Kelley Klope says the department patched the hole and placed salvage drums under the tank to contain the flow.

Klope estimates 4,000 gallons spilled into the French Broad, while Leonard says the figure is closer to 1,000 gallons.

The state health department hasn’t reported any fish kills. An oil sheen is visible for 2 miles (3 kilometres).

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Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com