20,000 gallons leak from oil tank

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Crews worked through the day removing contaminated soil from an oil spill on the city’s southeast side.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials say 20 thousand gallons of used oil spilled out of an above ground tank on Tuesday at the Metalworking Lubricants storage facility at 199 S. Sherman Drive near the intersection of Brookville Road and Sherman. The spill was caused by a broken valve.

IDEM officials say Metalworking Lubricants Company, based out of Pontiac Michigan, leases the site from another company, Naples Indy Bulk, LLC.

IDEM says there have been a number of leaks at the site from both above ground and below ground tanks. Officials are still working on the exact number.

“This was a significant spill in terms of gallons released. However, the good news is it was contained on site” said IDEM spokesperson Amy Hartsock.

Harrtsock says no oil was released into the sewer system, or any nearby creeks or streams and Metalworking Lubricants has agreed to take part in an environmental investigation that will determine the full extent of the contamination.

“The company is responsible for the entire incident response so they are responsible for all of the equipment brought in to vacuum, pump out the tank, pump up the oil that spilled, and also the excavation and the disposal of any materials that need to be disposed of” said Hartsock.

The contaminated soil will be taken to a southside landfill where IDEM says it will be disposed of properly.

IDEM says it is too early to tell if the company will face any fines.

The Marion County Health Department sent a crew to site to conduct water sampling.

The facility sits in a residential area. One homeowner has a well and worries his water could become contaminated. IDEM doubts that will happen but testing will be done as a precautionary measure.

Neighbors say they are unhappy with the way the storage facility has been managed over the past few years.

“it's an environmental disaster … that much oil in the ground isn't good” said one resident who asked to remain anonymous.