The University Department of Facilities and Services participated in a mock emergency oil spill exercise this morning. According to the Facilities and Services website, the oil spill exercise involved Champaign and Urbana fire departments, county emergency staff, public safety and environmental contractors for the Annual Joint Deployment Exercise.

To replicate the spill, the sewer water near St. Mary’s Road was dyed bright green to observe how the spill is transmitted.

Emergency response vehicles and a helicopter were present during the drill.

Keith Erickson, Management Engineer, said that the drill went well.

“The exercises are performed every couple of years because the law says you must do these drills with maximum amount of equipment in case something really does happen,” said Erickson.

All roads that were used for the exercise are now open.