A chemical spill from a Ford Motor Company plant in Ohio has now entered Lake Erie.
According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the spill originated in the plant’s paint department where a valve failed on a 50,000-gallon storage tank, releasing as much as 5,000 gallons of a rust-proofing chemical into a storm sewer.
Officials from the plant reported that they discovered the spill on June 24 and then quickly launched a cleanup effort. However, the next day, they realized the chemical had spread away from the plant in Avon Lake.
The Ohio EPA said that the spill currently poses no risk to drinking water or human health, and is not expected to impact wildlife.
Ford is now working with the environmental crews from the Ohio EPA to contain the material, which is a mix of deionized water and E-coat. According to local media, crews have already vacuumed about 60,000 gallons of storm water and the chemical and are planning to dispose of it at Chemtron Corporation.
