An oil spill occurred yesterday at the Braeburn Alloy Steel Mill in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, where hydraulic fluid was released into the Allegheny River. According to WTAE, first responders arrived on the scene before 4 p.m. following the detection of the spill, which extended nearly two miles downstream from the mill. This steel plant was the site of a previous incident in January, resulting in an explosion that caused one fatality and injuries to two others. However, officials have indicated that the spill is unrelated to that explosion.

Exact figures of the leaked hydraulic fluid were not available. Still, it emanated from two containment tanks with a capacity of 7,000 gallons, as well as an underground storage pit, "The substance was identified as hydraulic fluid from two containment tanks totaling over 7,000 gallons, as well as an underground storage pit. It is unknown at this time the total amount of fluid that was leaked into the environment," Chief Brenn Sites stated, as per WPXI. The fluid reached a nearby dam, and local water officials have been notified of the situation. Authorities have yet to issue a public water advisory, and the long-term environmental impact of the spill remains uncertain.

By evening, containment efforts were reported successful, with the spill contained around 5:44 p.m., as reported by WTAE. Meanwhile, the state Department of Environmental Protection has dispatched its emergency staff to oversee containment and remediation activities and investigate the spill's causes. While officials confirmed that the containment center did not hold, leading to the spillway leak, the Department of Environmental Protection has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident or its potential environmental repercussions.