FREDERIC — On Tuesday morning, a logging truck tipped over into a ditch along Kolka Creek Road between Chase Bridge Road and Hulbert Road spilling some fuel.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) was called in to investigate the scene of the accident.
According to MDEQ Geologist Christiaan Bon, about five gallons of fuel leaked into the ditch area, including the soil and some stagnant water.
Nearby resident, Don Jennings noticed the logging truck in the ditch at 9:21 a.m. At the time, there appeared to be only logging company personnel on the scene.
Concerned the fuel might eventually make its way into the nearby AuSable River, Don called the MDEQ and had several conversations with them about the incident.
The MDEQ has been working with Northern A1 Environmental Services to clean up the site. They are expecting to bring a vacuum truck to the site next week to remove the impacted soil.
Bon says the clean-up has gone well so far. He has been down to the site multiple times, the latest being this morning (Friday). His greatest concern is the contaminated soil.
He wants to reassure all residents and fisherman the fuel has been contained and it cannot reach the AuSable River.
Bon will return to the site next week when Northern A1 arrives to begin extracting the affected soil. Once the soil has been removed, he will test the soil again and make sure no fuel remains.
