He will also visit another tire chip fill site in Garfield County that is experiencing similar problems. The primary environmental goal at the site is to prevent contamination from spreading into Baker Bay. At this time, oil contamination is limited to an area between the foot of the slope below the roadway and the shoreline. Additional concern is focused at this time on groundwater that may be picking up oil and flowing under the site. Oil is not reaching Baker Bay at this time.
Efforts are underway to determine how far any subsurface contamination has spread.
Work will begin soon on a containment berm designed to catch potential increased release of oil from the smoldering tire fill under the highway. In addition, a 6,000-gallon storage tank will be moved into position to allow oil to be pumped out of the basin if needed. The agencies are taking preventative measures to contain the flow of oil from the site if it increases when contractors start to remove the tire chips. Oil flow from the site continues to average about two gallons per hour. Three small containment basins are removing oil from water running off the site.