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The area where a July 4 valve leak released about 25,000 gallons of gasoline into the Hubbard Branch Creek valley off Sugarlimb Road shows evidence of ongoing cleanup efforts.
The area where a July 4 valve leak released about 25,000 gallons of gasoline into the Hubbard Branch Creek valley off Sugarlimb Road shows evidence of ongoing cleanup efforts.
The efforts to clean up a gasoline leak along Hubbard Branch Creek off Sugarlimb Road are still under way, according to an update from Colonial Pipeline Co.
“Colonial Pipeline continues to make progress on site assessment and remediation efforts at the Sugarlimb Trap Facility,” according to an announcement posted at sugarlimb.colonialresponse.com/.
The incident began the night of July 4 when residents in the area contacted authorities about a smell of gasoline. Colonial responded and discovered a leaking valve at the trap facility. Company employees estimated about 25,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from the valve.
The pipeline, which runs from Atlanta to Knoxville, was shut down immediately and the leak fixed within 24 hours and put back in operation. In the months since the leak, Colonial, assisted by environmental consultants, has been working to remediate the area.
Assessment activities along the north and south sides of Sugarlimb Road continue. Nearby residents might notice an increase in activity and different equipment at the site, but the site remains stable and the estimated volume of gasoline that spilled has not increased, Colonial reported.
“No product has been observed in surface water receptors, and we continue to visually inspect nearby Hubbard Branch and the Tennessee River daily,” according to the report.
Equipment and materials earlier staged in an empty lot a quarter-mile from the site and near Interstate 75 have been removed.
Some of Colonial’s work at the site involves efforts to minimize erosion, including seeding grass, installing fences and laying gravel. Large areas of once barren hillside where trees were removed to facilitate access now show sprouting grass.
Colonial said the company recently donated excess gravel from the site to Loudon Police Department to help improve access to a training facility used by LPD and numerous other law enforcement agencies.
“Colonial remains committed to protecting human health and the environment and appreciates the community’s support as we work to safely remediate this area,” according to the report.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation staff are in daily communication with the cleanup contractors, Kim Schofinski, TDEC spokesperson, said.
“Weekly water quality samples have been taken,” Schofinski said. “All results have been below detection levels and no water quality violations have been found. Some drilling water contaminated with fuel has been removed and hauled to an appropriate disposal site by approved vendors. Additional water quality monitoring wells have been installed and will continue to be monitored.”
Kelli Branam, Loudon County Emergency Management Agency director, said her agency has been monitoring the process and is satisfied remediation work is progressing. She said Colonial has a great reputation of cleaning up after such incidents.
