BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The U.S. Coast Guard and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation are investigating a petroleum discharge on the Buffalo River.
Officials say there is a petroleum discharge near a combined sewer outflow outfall on the Buffalo River at the former ExxonMobil refinery site on Elk Street.
The majority of the petroleum is contained within a boomed area and the responsible party is mobilizing a clean-up crew to remove the petroleum from that area under strict joint oversight, according to officials.
The cause of the discharge remains under investigation.
All recreational boaters and kayakers are being asked to avoid the area of the discharge on the Buffalo River the vicinity of Babcock Street, in between the South Park Ave. and Bailey Ave. bridges.
The Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper issued a statement on its Facebook page saying in part:
"Waterkeeper will be tracking the investigation, pushing for more transparency about this spill, and advocating that the agencies hold Exxon Mobil responsible for the legacy pollution that continues to pollute our recovering river."
