DEP Continuing Investigation into Schuylkill Fuel Spill and Possible Fish Kill Link

A fish kill was reported Wednesday afternoon in the Schuylkill River in Gladwyne, within a couple miles of where an overturned tractor-trailer Tuesday on Interstate 76.

Despite the cleanup effort, a small amount of diesel fuel ran down a storm drain Tuesday, said Lynda Rebarchak in the DEP's Norristown office. However, no evidence had emerged by Wednesday afternoon to link the spill to the dead fish.

Because of Tuesday night's rain and the lack of a telltale fuel odor at the scene of the fish kill, investigators so far "don't think it's related," Rebarchak said. The investigation will continue Thursday.

A water quality inspector from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was dispatched to about 2:15 p.m. to investigate, after someone on the Montgomery County fire radio system reported observing dead fish in the river about 2 p.m., Rebarchak said.

Lower Merion public works employees on the Flat Rock Park dock found "two or three" dead carp, said Dan Sharer, a waterways conservation officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission who was at the scene.

The spill happened on the eastbound expressway west of the Waverly Road underpass, roughly three to five miles upstream from the park. Emergency crews worked to clean the fuel from the roadway immediately after the accident.

The exact amount of fuel that leaked down a storm drain, and its destination, could not be determined Wednesday.

Check back with Patch for updates as the investigation continues into Thursday.