Virginia State Police, in cooperation with City of Fairfax and Fairfax County fire marshals, are investigating an oil dump off the Route 123 exit ramp off eastbound I-66. According to a City of Fairfax Fire Department press release, city and county emergency units, responding to a report of a strong petroleum odor, discovered 300 gallons of petroleum product that had been dumped illegally in a dry creek bed near the ramp. The product, thought to be diesel fuel, had soaked into the ground and entered Accotink Creek through a small tributary. The spill may have occurred as early as Wednesday, Aug. 3, said the release.
Although investigators first thought the petroleum product had migrated all the way to the Pickett Drive and Braddock Road area, said fire chief Tom Owens, the product was contained in the area around Stafford Drive.
“The oil had been contained, and no other tributaries come off Accotink (Creek) between where the spill originated and where it stopped,” said Owens.
Still, he said, the City Fire Department is appealing for the public’s help. Citizens with any information regarding this incident should call Fairfax City Assistant Fire Marshal Gary Orndoff at 703-385-7857, or Fairfax County Assistant Fire Marshal Charles Hile at 703-246-4800.