Mercer Co. company spearheads oil spill cleanup

SHARON, Pa. — Duferco Farrell Corp. mistakenly discharged more than 13,000 gallons of an oily substance today into the Shenango River.

The substance, 95 percent water and 5 percent oil, is a nonhazardous solution that’s used as a lubricant in the plant’s steel-coil processing, said Mike Hrycyk, Duferco’s vice president of human resources.

Duferco realized that the solution was being discharged into the river about 7 a.m. today and that had been the case for about seven hours, Hrycyk said.

He said the company immediately took steps to stop the discharge, clean up the river and contact federal, state and county agencies.

The oily mixture is easily visible on the water, he said, and had made it to West Middlesex, Pa., by this afternoon.

He said the company is watching for signs of it in Pulaski, Pa., and may put a collection boom ahead of the Pulaski Bridge on Route 208 if that’s necessary.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com