Diesel Fuel Spill Reaches Lake Superior

LITTLE MARAIS, Minn. (AP) - Regulators are monitoring a small diesel fuel spill that reached Lake Superior.

A semi overturned on Highway 61 near Little Marais Tuesday afternoon, spilling about 75 to 80 gallons of diesel out of its fuel tank.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says a small amount of that fuel travelled about 1,000 feet down a ditch to Lake Superior.  Crews placed absorbent booms in the ditch to block the flow.

The MPCA says no recoverable amount of fuel accumulated in the lake other than in some eddies created by rocks along the shore. But it left some fuel odors and a petroleum sheen on rocks and in the water along about 1,350 feet of shoreline.

Crews will monitor the site for the next few days and mop up any accumulations.