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Apple Valley Tanker Rollover

 
Site Contact:
Joyel Dhieux
On-Scene Coordinator

(Dhieux.Joyel@epa.gov)

Site Location:
HWY 36
Lyons, CO 80540
 response.epa.gov/AppleValley

At approximately 12:01 pm on April 27, 2021, a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline was involved in a rollover accident on Highway 36 (near Mile Marker 18) northwest of Lyons, Boulder County, Colorado. The tanker spilled an estimated 1,000 – 1,600 gallons of gasoline at the site.  The spilled fuel traveled west along a drainage ditch and into a culvert that discharges to the North Saint Vrain Creek. It is unknown how much of this release entered the creek. A fish kill was also observed in North St. Vrain Creek downstream of the spill site, as a result of the release. 

EPA, Boulder County Public Health, and LMH Environmental, a consultant for the insurance company, understand that residents are concerned about their water wells.  If you have concerns, please contact LMH at rmuldrew@sbcglobal.net.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is assessing the fish kill and other wildlife issues as they arise.   Please contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at LyonsFishInfo@state.co.us with any photos or videos of dead fish, or if you collected and saved dead fish.

For additional information, visit the Documents section.

Interactive Story Map.


Colorado Parks and Wildlife assessing impacts to the macro-invertebrates, fish, and algae in the North St. Vrain River following the Apple Valley Tanker Spill. Colorado State Patrol performing screening of soils where contaminated soil removal has been completed. Response crews cleaned the culvert which drains into the North St. Vrain Creek US EPA Contractor performing documentation and sampling of environmental impacts associated with the incident. Tanker recovery operations. Boom placed along Saint Vrain Creek (near MM 18 on HWY 36) shoreline near the accident location contain fuel spill. Initial scene location upon arrival of EPA response assets. Tanker truck carrying gasoline rolled over on the side near the Apple Valley subdivision on Hwy 36. near Lyons, Co Contaminated soil in the ditch leading to the North Saint Vrain Creek. Front loader using clean soil to help stop gasoline from entering the North Saint Vrain Creek. Tanker truck carrying gasoline rolled over in a ditch near the North Saint Vrain Creek. Discharge location on the west bank. Gasoline from the incident location made its way through a culvert under HWY 36 to North Saint Vrain Creek . Emergency response personnel and assets deployed to the initial incident. Colorado State Patrol (CSP) on scene, is the Designated Emergency Response Authority for the State of Colorado. Tanker offloading and recovery operations. Tanker offloading and recovery operations. Dirt berm constructed to prevent further migration of gasoline lost from the tanker. Containment area where free product from the discharge is being collected and removed from the scene for disposal. Tanker recovery operations. EPA team collecting water sample. Offloading remaining fuel from tanker trucks. Response crews on the scene. Boom placed along Saint Vrain Creek (near MM 18 on HWY 36) shoreline near the accident location contain fuel spill. Berm placed to contain fuel. Vacuum truck removing fuel that was spilled. Lyons Fire and Rescuse on standby during transfer operations in case of fire. Creek downstream of spill area looking upstream. Creek downstream of spill area looking downstream at first boom location. Overturned tractor trailer on north side of roadway ditch. Boom location in creek downstream of spill area. Impacted creek wildlife 1 mile downstream of the spill site. Impacted creek wildlife 1 mile downstream of the spill site. Wrecking opertations after completed fuel transfer Operations to recovery the tanker after recovery of fuel in the trailer. Operations to recovery the tanker after recovery of fuel in the trailer. Operations to recovery the tanker after recovery of fuel in the trailer. Operations to recovery the tanker after recovery of fuel in the trailer. Earthen berm containment area Earthen berm containment area Boom area around culvert discharge near spill site Sample location AV-SW-06-08 Upstream view of boom area 2 Sample location AV-SW-01-09 Live fingerling fish at sample location Dead fish at sample location Sample location AV-SW-02-10 Dead fish at sample location Sample location AV-SW-03-11 Sample location AV-SW-04-12 Sample location AV-SW-05-13 Sample location AV-SW-05-14 Excavation of gasoline impacted soil in ditch Sample location AV01-SED-01 Sample location AV02-SED-02 Sample location AV03-SED-03 Sample location AV03-SED-04 Gasoline and gasoline-contaminated water and soils were removed from the culvert which drains into the N. St. Vrain Response crews continued excavation of contaminated soils at the site of the accident. Lyons Fire Protection remained on-site as fire watch. Contaminated soils were stockpiled prior to disposal. Colorado Parks and Wildlife assessing impacts to the macro-invertebrates, fish, and algae in the North St. Vrain River following the Apple Valley Tanker Spill. Colorado Parks and Wildlife assessing impacts to the macro-invertebrates, fish, and algae in the North St. Vrain River following the Apple Valley Tanker Spill. Colorado Parks and Wildlife assessing impacts to the macro-invertebrates, fish, and algae in the North St. Vrain River following the Apple Valley Tanker Spill. An excavator sits atop the pile of contaminated photos awaiting trucks to arrive for disposal. Contaminated soils being loaded for disposal Crews wash the rocks below the culvert to flush out any remaining gasoline Crews washed the rock and bank below the culvert to flush out any remaining gasoline. Containment boom will be left in place below the culvert until reclamation is complete


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