SECAUCUS, NJ — New Jersey environmental officials say diesel fuel that spilled from a Secaucus data center into a nearby Meadowlands creek last week did not reach the Hackensack River, offering some reassurance after concerns about the spill’s potential environmental impact.
About 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel were released from the data center and entered a nearby creek, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
NJDEP now says monitoring found no evidence that the fuel traveled farther into the Hackensack River.
The company operating the data center said the spill was caused by the failure of two valves used as part of the fuel filtration system. The facility has been operating at the Secaucus location since 2001.
Cleanup efforts have focused on containing and removing fuel from the affected creek and surrounding area.
The incident drew particular concern because the Hackensack River runs through the environmentally sensitive Meadowlands and ultimately connects with the Newark Bay system.
The latest update narrows the apparent environmental impact: while diesel did enter the creek, state officials say it was contained before reaching the larger river.
The cause of the equipment failure and the full scope of any remaining cleanup work are still being reviewed.
Sources: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | Shlomo Schorr / OneJerseySchorr
By NJ RADAR Team