Department of Ecology cleaning diesel fuel leak into Minnie Creek

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CHENEY, Wash. — The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) is working on cleaning the Minnie Creek River after a diesel fuel leak was reported.

DOE told KREM that on Wednesday, July 19, the Cheney Fire Department (CFD) called them to report a spill in Minnie Creek River. At first, DOE thought it was a solvent of some kind but they later confirmed it was red dye diesel coming from a nearby Chevron station's vaulted tank. They discovered the diesel had gone through some piping, leaked into a culvert and into Minnie Creek.

DOE has hired a contractor to help clean the spill. They have set up booms to help soak up the diesel and are doing water and soil testing.

Thus far, DOE says 30,000 gallons of an oil and water mixture have been removed from the creek and 1,500 gallons of the oil-water mixture were removed from the vault.

WDOE doesn't know how long the diesel has been leaking and if the diesel has reached the groundwater. They are still investigating.

KREM 2 reached out to the Chevron gas station in Cheney and they sent the following statement:

"We understand the Washington Department of Ecology responded to a fuel spill in Cheney, WA, and traced the source of this leak to an independently owned and operated, Chevron-branded station. Responders from the Department of Ecology, other emergency services and the station’s owner/operator have started cleanup and remediation efforts at the site," a Chevron spokesperson said in the statement.

This is a developing story and will be updated as we receive more information.

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