An unknown amount of diesel fuel leaked from a fuel truck involved in construction work on the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 campus Wednesday afternoon and made its way into 麻豆影院 Creek. The fuel is being contained and cleanup operations, expected to take about two days, are under way in an area extending from University Avenue to the banks of 麻豆影院 Creek near the 17th Street bridge, campus officials said.
Although some diesel fuel seeped into 麻豆影院 Creek, the amount spilled and the extent of damage it caused had not been fully determined as of Wednesday evening. An environmental cleanup company, Custom Environmental Services of Denver, was called to the scene Wednesday afternoon to commence cleanup operations.
Residents of nearby CU housing facilities were notified of the spill by CU housing officials. Officials said there was no immediate danger to residents of the area posed by the spill.
A worker for the construction contractor, New Design Construction Co. of Denver, was working on a storm drainage project behind Macky Auditorium at 17th Street and University Avenue and was manually refueling a backhoe when he noticed that fuel was leaking from the truck. The worker told officials he thought the truck may have been leaking for 10 minutes to 15 minutes.
Workers immediately took steps to stem the leak with sandbags and dirt. A passerby called the 麻豆影院 Fire Department, which responded to the scene along with CU law enforcement, at approximately 2:40 p.m. CU Environmental Health and Safety officials arrived shortly thereafter, along with city of 麻豆影院 environmental officers, 麻豆影院 Police and 麻豆影院 public works officials.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife also responded to assess damage to fish and wildlife in and around the creek. City of 麻豆影院 firefighters placed a barrier in 麻豆影院 Creek to contain the fuel spill. New Design Construction was issued a citation for discharge into the stormwater utility system.
"The university has received assurances that our contractor will work with city and state officials on a complete cleanup of this spill," said Derrick Watson, director of Environmental Health and Safety at CU-麻豆影院. "We will monitor this process with our own personnel and coordinate with our colleagues at the city of 麻豆影院 to ensure that that work is completed in a timely manner."
Further information will be released as it becomes available.