At approximately 0600 hours on June 2, 2024, a discharge of approximately 3,500 gallons of diesel was discovered at a petroleum storage and distribution facility in Omaha, Nebraska. The discharge was noted to have occurred within the facility's tank farm secondary containment constructed of concrete block walls; however, diesel escaped secondary containment through a hole. The discharged diesel flowed overland primarily to a retention pond on the facility, but also impacted a small drainage ditch north the tank farm. Both the drainage ditch and retention pond drain to Little Papillion Creek, a perennial water body. Upon discovery of the discharge, the facility initiated response activities and mobilized an environmental cleanup contractor to the site.
Cleanup activities included the recovery of diesel from secondary containment, retention pond and drainage ditch. Both absorbent and containment boom was deployed in Little Papillion Creek but no sheen or other visible impacts as a result of the discharge have been noted. Trenches were excavated within secondary containment and along the exterior walls of the tank farm's secondary containment to collect diesel migrating in the subsurface. An estimated 4,000 gallons of diesel/water have been recovered and is being stored on site in portable totes. Absorbent boom and pads were deployed in the retention pond, drainage ditch and excavation trenches in/and just outside the tank farm's secondary containment.
Cleanup activities will continue at the site and include recovery of diesel that collects in the excavated trenches, replacing absorbent boom in the retention pond and drainage ditch, and maintaining the boom currently deployed on Little Papillion Creek. Additionally, visible inspection of Little Papillion Creek will be conducted to monitor for petroleum impacts as a result of the discharge. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and EPA Region 7 both responded to the discharge and are conducting oversight of the cleanup actions.
