WOODS CROSS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Clean up continues almost a week after the Holly Refinery tank over pressured and released nearly 8,000 gallons of fuel oil.
Holly Refinery Engineering Manager Conrad Jenson explained. “We’ve had several crews out amongst the neighborhood working with the community on trying to get a scope on equipment that needs to be cleaned; vehicles, patio furniture, things like that.”
Roland Priest lives nearly a mile from the refinery and when the tank exploded last Thursday some of the oil landed on his truck.
"Well it just won't come off,” said Priest. “It's just oil spots, but it won't come off."
Priest not only got a certificate from Holly to have his truck detailed, he got some reassurance that the oil isn't damaging.
"I was quite concerned that it might have some kind of toxic, that something would damage the paint, but they reassured me that it's just oil same thing on the road,” said Priest.
Some residents are also concerned that it might be damaging to their health. They’re worried that the fuel oil will get in their water or on their vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Jenson explained, "The material that's there is very similar to motor oil so it doesn't pose a direct health risk, but I wouldn't eat anything that has it on it."
Holly is working to replace the vegetables, clean neighbors’ trees or offer some kind of compensation.
Meanwhile the Utah Department of Environmental Quality is testing the water to make sure it's safe. Under the federal Clean Water Act the agency is only required to make sure the water is safe. Because, under federal law fuel oil is considered a product and not waste, the DEQ isn’t required to clean up the soil or any other item the oil may have landed on.
Donna Kemp Spangler, DEQ Communication Director said, “Because it’s a product and not a waste, under the federal hazardous waste rules it’s not listed as a hazardous material and as such we don’t have any regulatory authority over that.”
The DEQ hasn't received back the soil samples or water samples it took after the spill. The agency says once it gets those results, they'll have a better idea of how big this spill was and what kind of environmental impact will be.
If you have any questions or concerns about damages received after the oil tank explosion you can contact the Holly Refinery Care Line at 801-560-5511.
