Authorities identify source of Mississippi River oil spill

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) - Authorities say 10 to 50 gallons of an oil and water mixture spilled from a small towboat docked in Moline into the Mississippi River.

Moline Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Allen says firefighters responded Friday afternoon to a report of oil on the water's surface in an area where two excursion boats are docked. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Michael Lewis says the leak came from a void space in the towboat, and that the cause of the spill remains under investigation.

Officials confirmed that the leak has stopped. Lewis says initial water samples tested have not shown oil contamination.

The Quad-City Times reports (http://bit.ly/18Ijx04 ) the U.S. Coast Guard arrived about 4:30 p.m. to assist local emergency crews. Officials remained on the scene Friday night to monitor the river.

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Information from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com