AUTHORITIES have been unable to identify the source of last Thursday's chemical spill into Queanbeyan River even after extensive testing around local sites.
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Gas monitors were used by Fire and Rescue Officers in an effort to track down the location of the leak.
However, they were unsuccessful in tracking down the source of the unidentified hydrocarbon.
"It's unknown whether the material was dumped or if it had been leaked from a container," Queanbeyan Fire Station Officer Wayne Huggins said.
"We sent officers to significant sites around Queanbeyan, places where we thought the leak would be coming from.
"A few travelled up the main street but stopped just after the pub [The Royal Hotel]. There were no readings past that point."
Mr Huggins estimates a total of 50 to 60 litres of hydrocarbon leaked into the river from a Monaro Street drain.
Emergency crews were called to the site just before midday on Thursday, January 22 and set up floating booms to contain the chemical, believed to be petrol or diesel.
The booms were left overnight and were removed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority on Friday afternoon.
Nigel Sargent of the Environmental Protection Agency South East Region said the booms had successfully contained the contamination with no evidence of any lasting effects on the environment.
The agency is currently investigating the cause of the fuel incident and has yet to issue any fines.
Fines of up to $15,000 for a company and $7,500 for an individual apply to anyone deliberately caught polluting waterways.
Mr Sargent urged anyone with any information regarding the incident to contact the EPA on 131 555.
The chemical spill caused minor traffic delays in Queanbeyan last week as Morisset Street and Collett Street were closed for about four hours while emergency crews worked to contain the substance. Roads were reopened about 4.30pm.
At least two boats were launched into the Queanbeyan River during the operation.
"We knew we had the situation under control once the SES could get in the water and contain the spill that was moving upstream," Mr Huggins said.
"It took about one and a half hours to get the booms in place and the rest of the time was spent monitoring the environment. We had to make sure the hydrocarbon wasn't going to travel past those booms."
Queanbeyan Fire Station officers were assisted by Fire and Rescue ACT, Queanbeyan City Council, the EPA and Queanbeyan State Emergency Services.
Related story: Petrol spill contaminates Queanbeyan River
