Diesel fuel leak reported in Cole County, found in creek near Lincoln University farm

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cole County Public Works announced in a Monday afternoon release that a diesel fuel leak appeared in a creek on the Lincoln University Alan T. Busby Farm south of Jefferson City.

Public Works said that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was alerted by Lincoln University staff about a diesel fuel odor and “pink and rainbow sheen,” the release states.

County Engineer for Cole County Public Works Eric Landwehr said his department has specific protocol that is required to be followed when a spill occurs, but that he never thought he'd have to use it.

"You know you normally, you put the plan and it's a book and it's something that just sits on the shelf, you never think you actually have to use it but we did in this case," Landwehr said.

The sheen was determined to be red dyed off-road diesel fuel coming from a fuel tank located across Highway 54 on the Cole County Public Works property, the release states.

The public works department is coordinating with the Department of Natural Resources to address and correct the situation, the release states. Public works staff is currently working to contain and dam the affected area to minimize further contamination downstream.

Workers on site used white padding to absorb the diesel, as well as sprinkler sea moss into the water. Landwehr noted that crews would be out on site Monday night into Tuesday morning. He also said that he expects the total clean-up to take about two days, but crews will have to monitor the area for several days after that.

A more in-depth investigation into the surrounding area will also occur at some point.

"Once that's done, there's gonna be some additional investigation of the soil on the site, or at least coming from our site," Landwehr said.

Landwehr said he was unaware of how much this will cost the department, as a full assessment needs to be done before a final amount can be disclosed.