MT. AIRY — An oil spill that dropped approximately 2,500 gallons of fuel oil into the Mississippi River Thursday is expected to have minimal impact on St. John the Baptist Parish residents and wildlife, according to Assistant Director of Public Safety Travis Perrilloux.

“We are aggressively monitoring this and making sure it is least impactful to our citizens and that our water intakes are safe for consumption,” Perrilloux said.

He said there is a very low chance of drinking water being impacted based on the low level of the Mississippi River and the location of intake sites and oil sheens.

No harm to wildlife has been reported.

“We’ve been monitoring the river, and we haven’t seen any impact,” Perrilloux said.

The oil discharge originated from Petroleum Fuel and Terminal Mt. Airy during an oil transfer to a barge on the Mississippi River at mile marker 144.6, near the Veterans Memorial Bridge, according to Lexie Preston, petty officer 3rd class of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Preston said the spill is classified as a medium-size oil spill for an inland area.

According to Perrilloux, a faulty hose was responsible for the spill. During an investigation done in coordination with the Port of South Louisiana, Perrilloux reported sheens of oil extending approximately five miles down the River in scattered spots.

Petroleum Fuel and Terminal Mt. Airy is financially responsible for all cleaning and mitigation and has hired organizations to aid efforts, Perrilloux said.

OMI Environmental Solutions and Environmental Safety and Health are conducting cleanup efforts with a combination of skimming packages, boom and absorbents, according to a U.S. Coast Guard news release. Air monitoring is being headed by the Center for Toxicology & Environmental Health.

Cleanup is expected to take up to two weeks, and the area will continue to be monitored for tar balls, Perrilloux said.

Preston said it is not known at this time whether the responsible party is facing charges.