On
March 21, 2024, a private citizen notified the National Response Center (NRC)
of an unknown quantity of oil surfacing from an underground pipeline into an
irrigation ditch and believed the oil had discharged into the Big Dry Creek. Upon arrival of Federal On-Scene Coordinator, it was determined that the spill was from a broken underground consolidation line. It was also determined that the oil had only entered the irrigation canal, called the Farmer's Ditch, which crosses the Big Dry Creek and discharges into the South Platte River. Oil did not reach the South Platte River nor the Big Dry Creek.
EPA OSC determined there is a substantial threat of discharge into navigable waters and is providing oversite as the RP continues cleanup actions. K P Kauffman is performing clean up actions including excavation of contaminated soil and draining the consolidation line that led to the release.
The Colorado Energy and
Carbon Management Commission and Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment Water Quality Control Division have been on site providing support
and oversite as needed. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been notified as the
Big Dry Creek is listed as Aquatic Native Species Conservation Waters.
