(WBEN) A petroleum discharge on the Buffalo River is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
It happened near a combined sewer outflow on the Buffalo River at the former ExxonMobil refinery site on Elk Street.
The majority of the petroleum is contained within a boomed area and the responsible party is mobilizing a clean-up crew to remove the petroleum from that area under strict joint oversight, according to officials.
The cause of the discharge remains under investigation.
All recreational boaters and kayakers are being asked to avoid the area of the discharge on the Buffalo River the vicinity of Babcock Street, in between the South Park Ave. and Bailey Ave. bridges.
(Editors Note: A new book called "The Day the Buffalo River Burned" written by John Zack documents when the Buffalo River actually caught fire in January 1968.)