Diesel fuel leak caused no problem to city water

A potential hazardous diesel fuel leak in the 100 block of South Jefferson Street in Minneota was quickly controlled by members of the Minneota and Marshall Fire Departments on April 4.
The incident was reported last Tuesday afternoon after a rural tank leaked diesel fuel that eventually found its way into a small flowing creek in the southwest portion of town. The Minneota Fire Department responded to the call and eventually was assisted by the Marshall Fire Department, the latter which is better equipped and has handled these types of leaks.
Because diesel fuel is a light oil and has lower density than water, it floats. Numerous plumes and containment pads, which soak up the floating fuel, were placed along the creek to keep the fuel from flowing into the Yellow Medicine River. Because of the quick response by the fire departments, the diesel fuel did not get into the storm water system or the city's water supply.
A spill response team from Morris, MN, which specializes in cleaning up accidents of this kind, was also called in to handle the fuel spill. That team spent two days in Minneota to minimize the impact on the environment so there were no problems to aquatic wildlife or any contamination of the city's water supply.
The response team is expected to return to Minneota this week to handle the removal of the plumes and containment pads as part of the final cleanup.