POCATELLO — Virginia Transformer Corporation on Pole Line Road in Pocatello has taken responsibility for a significant oil spill released into the Pocatello Creek earlier this month.

City of Pocatello officials said in a Thursday news release that Virginia Transformer Corporation, the fourth largest power transformer manufacturer in North America that is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, but has a plant in Pocatello, confirmed approximately 6,000 gallons of mineral oil were released from its facility during an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The mineral oil, which the EPA describes as a highly refined petroleum oil, was released from a railcar and made its way to a storm drain connected to Pocatello Creek, the news release said. The cause of the release is under investigation.

Pocatello Public Works Director Jeff Mansfield says Pocatello Creek runs parallel to Alameda Road and then to North Main Extension where it deposits into the Portneuf River near Kraft Road. Pocatello Creek includes both piped and open channel sections, Mansfield said.

Local, state and federal cleanup crews have been working to recover the mineral oil released into Pocatello Creek since Nov. 3. The spill was reported on Nov. 2. Thus far, cleanup crews have removed approximately 3,700 gallons of oil mixed with water and an estimated 1,100 pounds of oiled debris from Pocatello Creek, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Crews have prevented any significant flow of oil from impacting the Portneuf River since arriving on scene.

Virginia Transformer has taken financial and operational responsibility for the continued clean-up actions resulting from last week’s mineral oil spill into Pocatello Creek, the city’s news release said. With the assumed financial and operational responsibility, the EPA will now transition to an oversight role in partnership with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Pocatello to ensure an effective clean-up continues in Pocatello Creek and at the facility.

The agencies transitioned from an emergency cleanup to a more long term remediation phase this week. The long term phase is expected to last at least several weeks.

For any questions or concerns please contact Mansfield at 208-234-6212 or Bill Dunbar with the EPA at 206-245-7452.