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Scott neighbors question if hydraulic fluid spill was properly handled

Posted at 5:23 PM, Feb 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-05 14:18:21-05

A garbage truck spilled about 30 to 50 gallons of hydraulic fluid last week on Ocho Rios Lane in Scott. Now, residents are questioning if Republic Services handled the incident properly.

“This happened on a public roadway so obviously, you have a driving hazard, a hazard to pets, people. This hydraulic fluid its considered hazardous, ” resident Cory Packer said.

Packer lives in the neighborhood and says he informed Republic Services of the spill. He also called Department of Environmental Quality after Republic sent a clean-up crew, to make sure the spill was being cleaned properly.

DEQ says they received calls about the spill from both Republic and Packer and sent an investigator to the scene.

“He made Republic Services clean the site in accordance of the law,” Packer said. “Republic Services decided to bring in a different contractor to finish the job and I know that the DEQ investigators spoke with that contractor. DEQ investigators stayed here until they arrived. It was very clear they received instruction on what the law is required to do.”

A majority of the fluid was found in front of trash cans near the homes. While most of it has been cleared, Packer say’s there’s still some residue left behind and some questions on how the situation was handled.

“A company like Republic Service, whose sole job is to haul and dispose waste, should know environmental law,” Packer said. “It may be at the end of the day they did everything correctly, but I’m skeptical.”

In a statement, Republic Services tells KATC the spill was completely cleaned up on Sunday.