Illinois EPA investigating after dead fish found floating in Rooks Creek in Pontiac

A potential liquid nitrogen leak near Soil Fertility & Pest Management on March 29 resulted in dead fish in Rooks Creek from Weston to Pontiac.

According to a report from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, a leak was discovered about 11 a.m. on March 29 at 3112 N. 3350 E. Road. This placed the leak about three-quarters of a mile south of U.S. 24. The plant is located on the Weston Blacktop just north of U.S. 24.

The report stated that the leak was liquid nitrogen 28 percent from a steel tank that held 30,000 gallons. The report stated that 20,000 gallons was released. The cause was a valve not being closed and that a crack in the hose was present.

The estimated spill extent was 20,000 square feet, according to the report.

The matter has been made known to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois EPA by BCS LLC, the parent company of Soil Fertility & Pest Management, soon after.

“At this time, it is believed that material was introduced into the creek, but we need additional information to confirm that,” Kim Biggs, public information officer for the Illinois EPA, said. “We have collected some water samples from the area to determine the nature of the material that is in the creek and to determine any necessary remedial activities that will be needed.

“In the interim, we are just recommending residents avoid contact with the creek while investigation continues. We hope to have more on that in the coming days.”

The leak is believed to be what led to dead fish found in Rooks Creek. The number of fish that have been found dead has not been determined.

Biggs said there was a leak in the area but cannot confirm that it was liquid nitrogen that got into the waterway. She said testing of the samples that have been obtained will answer that question.

“It appears most if not all the fish in Rooks Creek have gone belly up,” Alan Bachman wrote in an email to the Daily Leader. He said that his investigation included witnessing dead fish in all sizes in the creek from minnows to bass.

Bachman said he was informed of the problem over the weekend and that Rooks Creek had been surveyed from near Weston to the Pontiac area. He said that another resident was keeping livestock away from the creek until more information is available.

“I'm pretty concerned about knowing how many animals use that creek for water source,” Bachman noted in his email.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources put up a post on Facebook earlier this week that stated it “is investigating a large fish kill on a stretch of Rooks Creek in Livingston County. The upstream limit of the fish kill is about .75 miles off Highway 24 near Weston. Dead fish were observed all the way up to 2000N (Livingston County), which is a distance of 22.0 stream miles.”

Fisheries and wildlife biologists and conservation police were working with the Illinois EPA in investigating the situation.