Folks have dealt with oil spills, sewage overflows and gas leaks. In Bessemer recently, grease and animal fat ended up in a waterway, reports AL.com's Dennis Pillion.
"Grease and animal fat" is my favorite combo meal at the drive-thru, by the way.
But this was a spill at a BHT Resources rendering plant. That's where they use grease and fat to make animal feed, recycled cooking oil and other things. You might've seen their black grease containers behind restaurants.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management External Affairs Chief Lynn Battle said contractors on BHT's dime have been able to remove most of the stuff from Valley Creek, which flows into the Black Warrior River. Battle also said they haven't seen negative effects on wildlife.
Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said it looks like the material poured out of wastewater ponds that are located next to the creek.
