8/13/2024
Sarah Thiessen
 August 16, 2024 updated 1004 am
Hazardous Spill File
4000 gallons of milk released into South Fork Sugar Creek in Tuscarawas Watershed
24-HOUR EMERGENCY SPILL HOTLINE 1-800-282-9378 or 614-224-0946
Report spills and environmental emergencies to Ohio EPA 24-hours a day, 365 days a year
The most recent spills files found were reported to Ohio EPA Spill line on August 12.
UPDATE - Looking further into records, a tanker truck had overturned on the road, resulting in approximately 4,000 gallons of milk into a corn field. The milk had ran through the field tiled and entered into the South Fork of Sugar Creek. OEPA reports no poor levels of water chemistry in that creek that would negatively impact wildlife or aquatic life. It is also noted a heavy rainfall occurred after this which aided in the dilution of the milk in the creek.
On Thursday, August 8th, 7200 gallons of milk was released off OH-557 in Clark Township, Holmes County. The cause of this spill is not noted in the report. The incident report indicates Salt Creek impacted, coordinates indicate South Fork Sugar Creek, to be confirmed with OEPA.
From Tri State Environmental website, large spills of milk can be treated as hazardous as an oil spill. Milk is classified as a pollutant due to that when milk breaks down in the water it increases biological oxygen demand (BOD), reducing dissolved oxygen available for fish and other aquatic organisms. Milk can cause bacteria growth resulting in the death of aquatic animals. This type of spill is worse in standing water as opposed to running water such as a creek. Running water dilutes the pollutant and lessens the consequences on wildlife in the impacted waterbody. A search of the surrounding towns Farmerstown and Baltic, along with Cabin Creek Golf Course water facilities we have determined these are on groundwater wells. If this spill went into a body of water that is relied on for drinking water, it would be undrinkable.
On August 12, unreported amount of diesel was released from a vehicle onto the ground along Warrensville Center Rd in Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga County. Again, on this day a quantity that is unreported of motor oil was discharged from a vehicle on Wheatland Ave in Columbus, Franklin County.
Spills, fish kills, rainbow sheen and releases of contaminants in the state of Ohio as reported to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Response. Users of this data should be aware that inconsistencies and inaccuracies may exist if these data are compared to data from other time periods due to changes in methods of data collection and mapping.
WTOH reports spills from OEPA with the following features:
- 40 gallons or more of petroleum product
- toxic chemical materials, corrosives spills of any amount
- all spills impacting water
Spills marked with asterisk are followed up with Ohio EPA authorities for additional information on the clean-up and recovery, including notices of violation and charges under State environmental statutes, federal charges under the Clean Water Act. See Ohio CrimeBox for more in
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