Contractor spills estimated 5

Jan 10, 2024

News News | Aug 8, 2023

The Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District responded early Monday evening to a diesel spill in the Crystal River in Carbondale.

The spill occurred when a contractor for the city of Carbondale Parks and Recreation department was working to restore a .5-mile, 18-acre reach of the Crystal River from Crystal Bridge Drive to the Carbondale Fish Hatchery. The effort is called the Crystal River Restoration and Weaver Ditch Efficiency project.

According to District Deputy Chief Mike Wagner, the contractors were pumping water for a diversion to work on trails and fish habitat, when the pump malfunctioned and started to leak diesel into the Crystal River. Residents downriver soon called 911 when they noticed the spill.

The contractors removed the pump before 911 was called, Wagner said.

“The pump had a malfunction that caused the diesel to leak into the water,” Wagner said. “I believe it was a fuel injector.”

Wagner said a restoration service was called to the spill and the clean-up was estimated to be finished by the end of Tuesday.

The spill is estimated to be between 5-10 gallons although the exact number is not known. Wagner said that there was a noticeable amount.

Carbondale said in a Tuesday news release that the contractors immediately isolated the pump with oil booms, oil protection kits and removed the pump that failed after the workers noticed a sheen in the water. Efforts were made to remove the fuel from the water.

The spill was downstream of the town ditch intakes and potable water sources.

ECOS Environmental Disaster and Restoration were called to assist in the clean-up while the crews continued to use their own oil booms and oil prevention kits to control the spill, the release states.

ECOS used additional oil boom and oil absorbent pads while the contractors called the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), federal and local authorities, town staff and the project engineer, as required by permit and contract documents.

Samples were taken during the spill and continue to be taken to monitor the situation. These efforts will continue on Wednesday.

Once the results from the water and soil samples are returned to ECOS, they will provide the Town of Carbondale and the contractors with a mitigation plan. The contractors will provide additional safety measures that include the use of oil booms, turbidity curtains, and spill containment pads around the pumps. The contractor will have a person monitoring the equipment every 30 minutes.

The project is a joint effort by the city of Carbondale and the Aspen Valley Land Trust to stabilize 900 feet of eroding riverbank, re-introduce flora and improve fish habitat.

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