City of Boulder news release
Yesterday afternoon, a fuel truck involved in construction work on the CU-Boulder campus leaked diesel fuel that made its way into Boulder Creek. The fuel spill occurred in an area extending from University Avenue to the banks of Boulder Creek near the 17th Street Bridge.
Reports initially stated that the amount of fuel spilled was "fewer than 100 gallons." Officials from the city of Boulder Water Quality and Environmental Services were informed by the construction contractor that the estimated of fuel spilled may be around 10 gallons or less, but the actual volume still needs to be verified by the contractor.
The contractor, New Design Construction, whose truck leaked the fuel, has hired the Denver-based firm of Custom Environmental Services to perform remediation work on the spill area. The firm is flushing the storm sewer with approximately 2,600 gallons of water. That water is being captured and stored in a vacuumed truck in order to keep it from entering Boulder Creek. Contaminated sediment has been identified near the banks of Boulder Creek, and the contractor is working to get a temporary permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Water Quality Division to remove the affected sediment and boulders.
"We were very relieved to find out that the spill may be smaller than first estimated," said Water Quality and Environmental Services Coordinator Bret Linenfelser. "We are hopeful that given the contractor's remediation work, impacts to the creek and its inhabitants will be minimal."
For more information about water quality impacts contact Bret Linenfelser at (303) 413-7355. For information from CU contact Bronson Hilliard at (303) 818-7496.