Fuel leak digs gas station into a hole
Geoff Rands
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
In mid-November 2006, the soil around the previous tanks was tested in a regular inspection, performed every five years, in a search for signs of petroleum release. Laboratory results, returned Dec. 1, revealed signs of such release. This inspection followed the decision by former owner Dennye Bullock to sell both the North Lafayette Street and West Jackson Street Cenex stations to Ish Oberoi, current owner.
Of the three tanks at the Lafayette location, all of which were over 20 years old, one of the non-diesel fuel tanks had "four significant holes," said Brandon Reese, project manager at Environmental Engineering, Inc., the company contracted by Oberoi to test the soil and groundwater.
Reese also said there was substantial contamination of the soil in the excavation. It is unknown how much petroleum leaked into surrounding soil.
Yet it was not until the end of February this year that physical work began on the excavation and replacement of the tanks.
"We had to get a lot of permission from the city and fire department people," Oberoi said in explanation of the more than three-month delay.
"I'm not sure how bad it would be, but I'm sure it would do something unnatural," Tom Booten, junior zoology major, said of the period during which petroleum was leaking.
Though the work was expected to be finished by last week, the discovery of an apparently unknown sewer line running between the tanks delayed matters further, as single-walled tanks must be located no less than 20 feet from sanitary sewers.
The relocation of this sewer line and subsequent installation of the new tanks are expected to take another two weeks.
"We, meaning Environmental Management, will be investigating the rest of the on-site area, and if necessary, go off-site to continue the investigation of the soil and water contaminated," Reese said in response to concerns regarding possible harm to the surrounding area from this leak, adding that such investigation would not cease until the situation could be clearly described.
In the meantime, a sizable hole attracts the attention of passers-by.
"The only thing I'm worried about is that it's open, and you'll always see drunk kids messing around there at night," Reese said.
Indeed, a Cenex employee recounted a story told by one customer of his friend who fell into the hole Saturday night, requiring police assistance to exit.
The tank upgrades will double the station's capacity for diesel fuel while increasing capacity for regular gasoline by nearly 50 percent, bringing the total fuel storage capabilities for the station from 18,000 to 28,000 gallons.
Though there is limited parking on-site, the store remains open to sell anything in its stock besides gasoline.
Be the first to comment on this story