EPA to determine next steps after inaccessible contaminated soil found Saturday near tanker spill outside Lyons
May 2—Environmental Protection Agency officials reported Saturday that they discovered some contaminated soil that is inaccessible near the site of the recent gasoline tanker spill outside Lyons.
Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency are working to determine the next steps, said Dana Barnicoat, EPA Region 8 public information officer. Barnicoat said officials are assessing whether to contain or remove the soil.
Barnicoat read from a statement on the situation: "The soils are inaccessible without risking damage and removal of part of Highway 36. The team agreed to leave the soils in place with engineering controls to minimize movement of the remaining gasoline. Per agreement, CDOT concrete will be placed to secure the culvert in place."
Barnicoat said teams are working to try to secure the site before the rain forecasted for Sunday.
The EPA had tweeted earlier in the day that contaminated soil removal had been completed.
"That tweet went out earlier, before we had this information," Barnicoat said.
A semi tanker carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline crashed Tuesday on a curve of U.S. 36 near Apple Valley Road's north intersection. The semi tanker rolled, spilling roughly 1,000 to 1,600 gallons of gasoline, the EPA reported. Some of the fuel leaked into the North St. Vrain, killing a number of fish.
Officials working at the cleanup site on Friday discovered free-flowing pockets of gasoline in the soil near the crash site. Crews worked through the night Friday to mitigate the situation.
Also on Saturday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife was on scene assessing the impacts to the macroinvertebrates, fish and algae in the North St. Vrain River, while Colorado State Patrol officials screened areas where the contaminated soil had been removed.
Barnicoat said work at the site is expected to continue Sunday.
To report dead fish to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, people can email LyonsFishInfo@state.co.us.
