Fuel-oil leak from Perkasie Industries site contained
PERKASIE, PA
Fuel oil that had been discharged into Pleasant Spring Creek was sourced back to a previously undiscovered storage tank at the Perkasie Industries site, which was subsequently removed July 9, the borough announced.
The former industrial facility has been undergoing demolition in recent months to make way for the Perkasie Woods Development of 144 townhouses by Metropolitan Development Group.
According to the statement, the existence of the storage tank was unknown to the owner, the developer, the borough and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection despite extensive testing at the site before demolition of the Perkasie Industries facility began. It said as of July 9, the leak has been contained and further cleanup has begun.
“Everyone has cooperated to the fullest extent,” Borough Manager Andrea Coaxum said in the statement. “The borough worked quickly with the developer, the state and environmental experts to identify the source and prevent damage.”
According to Coaxum, the tank had been located under a concrete slab in what is believed to be the location of the loading dock at Perkasie Industries. She said there was no indication that the work being done at the site damaged the tank, though it would have likely gone undiscovered if not for the activity.
“We believe it sat corroded for many years under the slab,” Coaxum said. “Once site work began, stormwater was able to enter the ground surrounding the tank and eventually entered the tank. Although only a small amount of oil remained, it rose to the top quickly once the tank began filling with water.”
Coaxum said Metropolitan Development Group has cooperated with the cleanup at the site and of borough infrastructure. According to Coaxum, PADEP continues to monitor the cleanup and removal of contaminated soil and the borough remains involved with professionals on the site to protect its interests.
The first signs of the problem were reported July 1, according to the release, when a pedestrian noticed an odor while on the walking trail along Spruce Street and members of the public works department discovered a small sheen in the Pleasant Spring Creek.
An investigation into that leak found no evidence connecting it to the construction site, the statement said. Protective material was placed over the stormwater outfall and police were directed to watch for persons dumping anything that looked like oil into the storm sewer. The sheen had reportedly dissipated by Monday.
When a more widespread contamination was noticed July 7, the Perkasie Fire Department deployed boons to catch the sheen and the borough contacted the PADEP, the Fish and Waterways Commission and an environmental cleanup company