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Emergency crews set floating booms in the Strawberry River on Friday afternoon, after globs of a mystery petroleum product were seen sticking to the stream banks behind the Duchesne County Fairgrounds.
Mike Lefler, director of the County Fire and Emergency management office, said he is "pretty sure" the substance is oil but investigators are still trying to confirm that.
"It's an ongoing investigation at this point into what's happened," Lefler said. "We're not positive what it is."
Lefler said booms and buoys appear to have contained the spill. Cleanup begins today. Enviro Care, Inc., an environmental cleanup company based in North Salt Lake, was called in to assist hazmat and fire crews from the county, Duchesne City and Myton City.
The impacted stretch of river runs through backyards and neighborhoods. Lefler said Friday evening no injuries had been reported so far. He added that he could see fish jumping in the stream in front of him as the sticky material gathered on the river's edges.
Some people at the scene were identified as being with Chevron, but spokesman Dan Johnson said: "It's not our spill."
It is possible, however, that Chevron workers were on hand and pitching in with the cleanup, he added. "Our people often volunteer when someone is having a problem."
Nate Carlisle contributed to this report.