Fuel leak seeps under apartments

FINDLAY — Cleanup efforts continue after fuel from an underground leak at a gas station seeped under a Fostoria Avenue apartment complex. The leak was detected after residents of the Crestwood Apartments, 1701-1811 Fostoria Ave., complained of a fuel odor in their complex. The apartments are owned by Croys: T.C. & Son, Findlay. Findlay Fire Chief Josh Eberle said exploratory excavation at the apartment complex was scheduled to begin last week. The goal is to locate drainage points from the apartment's downspouts into a common drainpipe where fuel was found. Eberle said the Findlay Fire Department first responded to the complaint in March. After an onsite investigation and a review of the fuel system testing documentation for the neighboring ARCO gas station, 1831 Fostoria Ave., the station was ordered to suspend fuel sales on March 13. The gas station was then asked to test its systems and provide an updated report to the State Fire Marshal's Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulation, or BUSTR. "The gas station operators were compliant with all orders and worked with their contractor, BJAAM Environmental, Inc., to provide documentation and test their systems as requested," Eberle said. "On March 19, sales of regular unleaded resumed after satisfactory test results were provided for that system. The diesel fuel and premium unleaded systems remained turned off, and those systems were identified as the probable cause of the odor due to a suspected leak underneath one of the fuel islands." Potential fuel contamination was identified in the apartment's private storm drain system, Eberle said. The gas station's contractor used absorbent material and a neutralizing agent to help clean up the spill. Eberle said the contractors repaired the diesel and premium unleaded fuel systems and provided the pressure test results to BUSTR on May 6. "After review of the contractor's mitigation/remediation plan for the apartment complex and consultation with BUSTR, the fire department provided authorization to resume sales of premium and diesel," Eberle said. "Additional investigation of the apartment property was conducted by BJAAM's director of emergency services. This included air monitoring, soil boring samples, video inspection of downspouts and storm drains, groundwater sampling, and the use of ground-penetrating radar and an underground utility survey to identify potential pathways of leaked fuel migration onto the apartment complex property." He said the contractor and the station owner have been very cooperative. "They appear committed to resolving these complaints and are diligent in proper offsite disposal of any contaminants. I anticipate progress updates from BJAAM as they continue their mitigation strategy," he said.