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MANTUA, Box Elder — Workers with the Bear River Health Department in Brigham City are cleaning up an oil spill that nearly made its way into the Mantua Reservoir.
"A fisherman noticed some oil next to the stream," said Clayne Shakespear, an environmental scientist. "We placed two booms in the stream, downstream from where the oil spilled."
Shakespear was called to the affected area of Maple Creek around 1 p.m. Sunday. He says it appears the spill was contained to the area and did not make it into the lake.
"It wasn't a large quantity," Shakespear said. "We estimated anywhere in the range of four to five quarts, what you'd get from just a standard oil change."
But what's upsetting to Shakespear and others is that oil could have easily been disposed of legally for free.
"There are resources out there for individuals, for do-it-yourselfers, as far as disposing of that oil," Shakespear said.
People who were out enjoying the lake Wednesday afternoon found news of the dumping upsetting.
"I don't think that's good at all," said Mark Erickson, of Ogden. "It's not fair to the rest of us that are out here, enjoying the outdoors."
"This is a great place for families to come and enjoy nature," said Jennifer Williams. "For someone to be careless like that is really disappointing."
Shakespear points out that the Utah Department of Environmental Quality keeps a list of places that will properly dispose of oil for free on its website. There is still one boom in the creek near the reservoir. Shakespear says it will likely stay there for several more days.
"Once we've determined there's no residual oil in the stream, we'll remove the booms and dispose of them properly."
