5K gallons of fuel oil spill into the Ohio River

CINCINNATI (AP) — An estimated 5,000 gallons of fuel oil spilled into the Ohio River about 20 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

A Duke Energy official says the spill happened late Monday night at one of its substations in New Richmond.

Duke Energy spokeswoman Sally Thelen says the spill occurred during a fuel transfer and lasted 10 to 15 minutes before it was stopped.

An official with the Cincinnati Marine Safety Detachment tells The Cincinnati Enquirer that the spill is considered medium-sized, saying that designation applies to inland leaks between 1,000 and 10,000 gallons.

He says it will take several days to clean up the spill and that a vacuum likely will be needed to suck the oil out of the water.

Thelen says the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is on scene.