Freeburg Mayor Darryl Haller confirmed this week that a diesel leak is under investigation but there is no apparent danger to the community.
A citizen informed Haller of a strong diesel smell near the old tunnel and Public Works Director Todd Feeler looked into the situation Monday, Feb. 22.
“We’re not sure where the leak is coming from,” said Haller. “We called the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and they came down on Tuesday to inspect the area.”
DNR Environmental Supervisor Alan Cortvrient on Tuesday of this week said the cause of the leak has not yet been determined but a test of the diesel fuel product line indicates that is not the source.
“It makes logical sense that it would be the tank itself but we have not completed testing to make that determination,” he said. “The tank will be inspected in the next few days.”
It is uncertain how long the diesel had been leaking but Haller said it was noticed once the snow and ice began to melt as the fuel was floating on top for about 200 to 300 yards.
“It was not a steady stream,” Haller added.
Cortvrient concurs. “When we arrived on the scene, we conducted an assessment of the situation and saw three things that led us to determine there was a leak,” he said.
The first observation was the accumulation of one to 1.25 inches of diesel fuel on top of the ice and water where the above-ground diesel fuel tank is located. Also, it was noted that petroleum-contaminated soil and dead grass were observed near the storage area on Eagle Stop’s property. Finally, there was a fuel/oil sheen in the Rock Island Railroad right-of-way east of the old tunnel.
With these observations, DNR contacted local management at Eagle Stop, which in turn reached out to Gier Oil Company, which owns the gas station.
“Gier Oil recognized the significance of the problem and immediately contacted Environmental Works Inc. out of Springfield to come in and clean it up,” said Cortvrient. “Everyone involved has worked well together to address the situation.”
The Springfield contractor removed diesel from the storage tank area and began excavating contaminated soil, which Cortvrient said will be an ongoing project.
Absorbent materials have been placed east of the tunnel to prevent drainage from moving further toward the Gasconade River, and interceptor trenches have been put in place below the above-ground tank to contain diesel from the source.
A drilling rig has also been used to conduct shallow soil borings to determine any underground diesel fuel.
Haller said he plans to invite representatives of Eagle Stop to the next trustees’ meeting to answer a few questions.