Fuel Spill Cleanup Concludes

Stormwater Division - September 1, 2006
Contact: Keith Huff, 747-6962

The two remaining collection points set up to recover diesel fuel that leaked last month into Bowen Branch Creek are to be removed following an inspection today of the creek.

Officials with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the city Stormwater Division, and Waste Management Inc. agreed that the collection points can be removed, said Keith Huff, the city’s stormwater director. “With the rainfall of the past few days we saw no evidence of diesel fuel at (the collection point at) New Walkertown Road and only a trace at Liberty Street,” Huff said. Heavy creek flow from rain also made it impossible to impound the water and operate the collection point.

Four collection points were set up Aug. 18 after about 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from an underground pipe at 3303 N. Glenn Ave. that serves a fueling station for Waste Management’s vehicles. Some of the fuel seeped into a stormwater drain and ended up in Bowen Branch Creek.

Two of the collection points were removed Wednesday.

No further collection efforts are anticipated, Huff said. The warning signs, a safety fence and caution tape around Bowen Branch Creek will also be removed.
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