I guess since there wasn't an apparent 'body count" i.e. dead or ill fish to be witnessed in the high and muddy water, the spill may have been deemed reasonably inconsequential.
Coincidentally, and presumably directly unrelated to the incident, 150 Skamania brood stock subsequently perished at the hatchery. According to the DNR, this was due to "bacterial infection brought on by a higher than normal prevalence of a water borne bacterium." according to the DNR. Those fish are presumed to be replaceable by collecting additional Skamania.
Response from Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer ;
Diesel Fuel Release
South Shore Freight Rail Yard
Progress Update
On July 21, 2019, an oil sheen was observed on Trail Creek. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the LaPorte County Emergency Response Department immediately began to investigate this problem in an effort to identify the source of the contamination causing the sheen. These efforts continued until July 22, 2019, when the source of the contamination was identified as a diesel fuel leak from an underground pipe in the rail yard at South Shore Freight, and on July 23, 2019, IDEM determined that the release was emanating from the locomotive fueling operations. Containment booms were installed in Trail Creek and diesel fuel that had collected in a drainage ditch on the South Shore Freight property was also cleaned up. Since July 23, 2019, IDEM has followed up on this issue on numerous occasions, as IDEM representatives have indicated that they have been on the site no less than twenty (20) times since the investigation started.
While it is the sole legal responsibility of the company responsible for the spill to notify downstream users of potential contamination, IDEM took the proactive steps of notifying the City of Michigan City and the Michigan City School District, to make them aware of the problem. When notifying the City of Michigan City of the incident, IDEM stated that “No observable impact has been identified to fish within Trail Creek, including the portion of Trail Creek flowing through the Potawatomi Golf Course.” There was an impact to a wooded property owned by the City next to the rail yard as a result of the diesel getting into a small ditch crossing the property which discharges into Trail Creek. It is believed that the diesel caused a sheen in the ditch which then flowed into Trail Creek.
Soon after learning of incident and that City property was potentially affected, Michael Kuss, Michigan City Sanitary District General Manager, contacted the law office of Plews, Shadly, Racher & Braun (PSRB), Indianapolis, Indiana requesting assistance with ensuring that the proper clean-up remedy is provided to the City’s property and to Trail Creek. Mr. Kuss stated, “The City was concerned about this release and wanted to ensure that South Shore Freight takes all necessary and appropriate investigative and remedial actions.” The law offices of PSRB asked that South Shore Freight provide the City with all available information and documents regarding the impacts to the City’s property, the City’s improvements (including, but not limited to, any sewer lines), and Trail Creek. PSBR also requested that South Shore Freight provide its plans to investigate and remediate this release. South Shore Freight has already provided the City with some information confirming the source of the leak and repair of the leaking pipe and PSRB and the City will continue to follow up to ensure that all proper remedies are afforded to the City as a result of this diesel spill.
Please note: South Shore Freight is not the same company as the South Shore Commuter Train (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District – NICTD). They are a completely separate company, and this is why they are using diesel engines instead of electric engines to power the trains.
