Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
 
For Immediate Release October 14, 2007
 

RUPTURED TRUCK TANK RESULTS IN DIESEL SPILL
  

URBANDALE - An estimated 150 gallons of diesel fuel reached a tributary of Walnut Creek on Sunday.
 
The spill originated at the Pilot Travel Center located at the Interstate 35/80 and Douglas Avenue interchange in Urbandale after a truck was backed over a scale resulting in a ruptured fuel tank on the truck at approximately 8 a.m. Sunday. The diesel entered the creek through a storm water intake.
 
Booms and pads were used in the stream to stop and absorb the fuel in the stream, but much of it moved down creek rapidly due to rain and was unrecoverable. 
 
"It's probably fortunate this happened when we had all the rain because the impacts to the stream could have been much greater if the creek was low. All of the extra water will help dilute the diesel much quicker," said Ted Petersen, an environmental specialist for the DNR.
 
Petersen said the fuel in the stream would not be combustible, but there was an oil sheen on the water and a diesel odor near the stream on Sunday. The creek runs through Living History Farms.
 
The incident is still under investigation by the DNR.
 
For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.



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