An underground storage tank at a service station in Canyonville failed recently, releasing an estimated 3,000 gallons of gasoline into the ground. Some of the fuel seeped through the ground and into the creek near the Main Street crossing. The creek is a tributary of the South Umpqua River.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is overseeing cleanup of the release, as well as water monitoring in nearby Canyon Creek. The tank is at the 76 Canyonville Buy 2, at 211 SW Fifth St. in Canyonville.
The tank failure was discovered Feb. 25. Late in the afternoon on Monday, the DEQ received a report of gasoline odor and sheen along Canyon Creek, about 400 feet from the service station.
Cleanup response on Tuesday and Wednesday included the placement of 300 feet of hard and absorbent boom in the creek, along with recovery of fuel where it’s entering the creek. Throughout Tuesday the sheen diminished.
Preliminary air monitoring at homes and businesses between the service station and Canyon Creek showed no sign of odors from the release. Water monitoring upstream, downstream and at the site where fuel entered the creek is ongoing. Sampling results are expected soon.
Cleanup crews are removing the faulty tank and adjacent tanks, and will be removing contaminated soil and groundwater from the excavation. The service station is closed.
Media contact: Dylan Darling, DEQ Western Region public affairs specialist, 541-686-7997, Darling.dylan@deq.state.or.us