On March 4, 2018, at approximately 4:30 PM local time a tanker truck was delivering gasoline to an underground storage tank in Marquette, MI when an overfill condition occurred, causing gasoline to flow across the pavement surface into the street and entering the storm drain system. The original spill estimate was 400 to 700 gallons but that was revised to an estimated 180 gallons of gasoline that was released.
The City of Marquette Fire Department and Department of Public Works and Utilities provided initial response and containment. Affected streets were temporarily closed and some homes were temporarily evacuated in the 1000 block of West College Avenue. Sand was used to soak up the gasoline from the roadway surface. Krist Oil Company mobilized KSK General Construction Services as the response contractor and roads were reopened early on the morning of March 5, 2018.
Storm sewer impact began at the spill location and continued through the Northern Michigan University Campus area up to the Dead River. Absorbent booms were placed at the storm sewer outfall near the confluence with the Dead River. A vacuum truck was used to clean out affected catch basins and manholes along the storm sewer route and the line was flushed. Air monitoring was conducted to evaluate ambient and in-sewer vapor levels and air sampling is in-progress to ensure no residual public health threat from gasoline toxicity.
