HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 07-22 700 gallons of oil cleaned up at site of Maplewood pipeline leak THE REVIEW 700 gallons of oil cleaned up at '`u`- 02a'`98
site of Maplewood pipeline leak
By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS drain the oil from the soil and pump it out, pipe,according to Craig. be dying, she said. Koutek added,
Staff Writer according to Paul Craig, division Local residents are still wondering if however,that otherbirch trees planted in
manager for the company.The pit,which the oil leak has affected their plants and their yard have died several times m the
The Williams Pipeline Co.of Roseville collects both water and oil draining from water.Philip and Donna Leeman,2438 past.A large,previously healthy Russian
estimates it has recovered more than 700 the higher ground, is pumped out Stillwater Road, own the land on the Olive tree,also appears to be dying,she
gallons of oil from the "pinhole" leak everyday,he said. western side of Bartelmy where the continued. The Williams workers have
which developed in a Williams pipe on The recent rains have helped wash out recovery pit is located.They are afraid quickly brought in new soil and sod to
Bartelmy Lane,Maplewood,July 11. the soil, he added. The pit collects some of the oil may get into their well, repair their yard,she added
Officials from the Minnesota Pollution drainage from a 75 to 100 foot area,but according to Donna Leeman. Williams The pipeline beneath Bartlemy is just
Control Agency(MPCA)are supervising Craig could not say if the oil had actually Pipeline Company has promised to test one of three Williams owns which run
soil borings in the area to try to determine seeped that far from the leak in the pipe. the water and take measures to prevent approximately 15 miles from Roseville to
the extent of underground contamination The Pipeline Company expects to that,she continued.The oil has definitely Newport,according to Craig.The pipe
from the leak. The total volume of continue to monitor the site for two to stunted the growth of their corn,which is which leaked had been there since 1930,
seepage is uncertain,but it could be more three weeks,Craig estimated.Once the in the lowland about 20 yards west of the though Williams did not assume
than a thousand gallons, according to extent of contamination has been leak,she said. ownership of these lines until 1966, he
Dick Cable of the MPCA. determined, however, the MPCA may Mrs. Elaine Koutek, 939 Bartelmy said.The corrosion which led to the leak
"The idea is to find the affected area," require Williams to establish more Lane, said some oil is still seeping probably occurred in the 1930s,prior to
said Cable.The soil borings will go 10 to 12 thorough recovery measures,Cable said. through the rocks in her front yard. the development of an electrolysis system
feet deep, until they reach the water The seepage does not seem to have Several birch trees in their yard appear to which Williams now uses in its pipelines
table,Cable explained. affected the marsh at the Maplewood to prevent corrosion,he explained.
Williams has dug a recovery pit on the Nature Center, which has its western
west side of Bartelmy Lane in order to edge about 120 yards east of the leaking
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THE SCENE OF LAST week's oil leak in Maplewood,934 Bartelmy Lane,has been
cleaned up on the surface,while oil continues to drain from subsurface deposits.
Williams Pipeline Co.of Roseville has recovered more than 700 gallons of oil which
flowed from a"pinhole"leak in a six-inch pipe.