UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Cleanup efforts are underway Friday morning after an estimated 60,000 gallons of jet fuel and kerosene spilled from a Sunoco pipeline in Upper Merion Township Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 3 p.m. in the Bridgeport section, on River Road near Insurance Auto Auction.
The underground pipeline was accidentally struck during a construction project, Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder said.
The fuel flowed out to Glasgow Quarry and as of Friday morning, had not appeared to flow into the Schuylkill River.
"The good news is the pipeline has been shut off on both sides of the break, and crews are working to contain the fuel," Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello added.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection are on the scene checking the air and soil quality for contaminants.
A cleanup crew entered the quarry Friday morning to begin the extensive work. They were asked by the quarry's owner to not enter Thursday night due to safety issues in the dark.
The full scale of the environmental impact remains unknown and is the "immediate focus" of officials.
A shelter in place order was in effect for hours on Thursday afternoon, and numerous nearby roads were shut down. Rush hour traffic was stalled for hours in the King of Prussia area.
All roads have since been reopened.
No injuries or illnesses have yet been reported.
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