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Crews work to clean diesel spill at Sacramento park

Crews work to clean diesel spill at Sacramento park
MALLARD DUCKS COVERED IN OIL. CREWS SEARCHED THE BANKS OF TANZINITE PARK. >> WE HAVE SEEN OILED BIRDS AROUND ON THE BANKS, CAPTURED A COUPLE BIRDS THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL WILDLIFE AND CAPTURE FOR CARE. MICHELLE: NEIGHBORS SAY THE PARK IS USUALLY FILLED WITH GAGGLE OF GEESE AND MIGRATORY MALLARDS AND OTHER BIRDS WHICH STOP HERE THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE FUEL SPILL CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR THE WILDLIFE, WHICH IS WHY STAFF FROM THE OILED WILDLIFE CARE NETWORK ARE HERE RESCUING THE WATER FOWL. >> IT AFFECTS THEIR FEATHERS PRIMARILY WHICH IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO THERMO REGULATE, SO THEY PREEN A LOT WHICH MEANS THEY ARE INGESTING OIL AS THEY ARE CLEANING THEIR FEATHERS. MICHELLE: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICE OF SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IS LEADING THE CLEAN UP EFFORTS. YOU CAN SEE THE LARGE OIL SLICK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. >> IT CAME FROM A STORAGE TANK UP STREAM OF US THAT HAS A 10,000 GALLON CAPACITY. WE DON’T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER YET BUT SEVERAL THOUSAND GALLONS HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING. MICHELLE: CENTENE CORPORATION IS ABOUT A MILE NORTH OF THE PARK ON EAST COMMERCE WAY. THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, HINES, SAYS THE DIESEL FUEL SPILL HAPPENED ON THE LOADING DOCK AND LEAKED INTO STORM DRAINS, WHICH RUNS INTO THE TANZINITE PARK POND. >> WE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE ROUTE IT TOOK FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THERE ARE A COUPLE UPSTREAM PONDS SIMILAR TO THIS WE ARE HAVING OUR CREWS GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THEY DON’T HAVE ANY PRBLEMS THERE. MICHELLE: THE OFFICE OF HEALTH HAZARD AND ASSESSMENT WHICH WILL TEST WATER SAMPLES TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY DANGER TO THE FISH. THE STORM DRAIN ENDS HERE AT THIS LAKE SO FISH AND WILDLIFE BELIEVES THIS IS WHERE MOST
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Crews work to clean diesel spill at Sacramento park
Crews are working to clean up a diesel spill at a park in the North Natomas area of Sacramento. The spill happened at Tanzanite Park, near Interstate 80 and Interstate 5. The park is shut down during the cleanup. A report from the Office of Emergency Services shows a 10,000-gallon tank had a "malfunction," and the diesel was released onto the concrete loading dock and into a storm drain. "It came from a storage tank up slope, up stream that had a 10,000 gallon capacity," said Ryan Hanson with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We don't have the exact number yet but several thousand gallons has been reported to us as missing."The Office of Spill Prevention and Response is leading the cleanup efforts which began at sunrise Tuesday. The spill originated about a mile north of the park at the Centene Corporation on East Commerce Way.The property management company, Hines, said the spill happened on the loading dock and it's working with the state to help clean up the storm drains and lake.In a statement, Hines said, "At this time, a team is working diligently to clear and clean the storm drains on the property and address areas potentially affected by the storm drains. In doing so, we are working closely with the County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Office of Emergency Management to resolve these issues. We will provide updates as the work proceeds under proper regulatory oversight.” The source of the leak has been stopped. Wildlife care specialists with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network of Cordelia are on the scene and have already rescued at least two birds that are being treated at the San Francisco Wildlife Care and Education Center.The specialists are walking along the banks and park looking for other birds and wildlife affected by the spill. "It affects their feathers primarily which impacts their ability to thermos regulate so they preen a lot which means they are ingesting oil while they are cleaning their feathers," said Greg McGowan with the wildlife branch of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response. Neighbors said the park is usually filled with gaggle of geese and migratory mallards and other birds. There are also turtles and beavers that live around the lake. "We will continue to do reconnaissance, looking for birds, looking for behavior that is abnormal and other wildlife in the pond," McGowan said.The Office of Health Hazard and Assessment will test water samples to see if there is any danger to the fish in the lake.The Sacramento Fire Department is testing the air quality in the area because the spill happened near a neighborhood.Crews will continue the cleanup Wednesday morning.

Crews are working to clean up a diesel spill at a park in the North Natomas area of Sacramento.

The spill happened at Tanzanite Park, near Interstate 80 and Interstate 5. The park is shut down during the cleanup.

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A report from the Office of Emergency Services shows a 10,000-gallon tank had a "malfunction," and the diesel was released onto the concrete loading dock and into a storm drain.

"It came from a storage tank up slope, up stream that had a 10,000 gallon capacity," said Ryan Hanson with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We don't have the exact number yet but several thousand gallons has been reported to us as missing."

The Office of Spill Prevention and Response is leading the cleanup efforts which began at sunrise Tuesday.

The spill originated about a mile north of the park at the Centene Corporation on East Commerce Way.

The property management company, Hines, said the spill happened on the loading dock and it's working with the state to help clean up the storm drains and lake.

In a statement, Hines said, "At this time, a team is working diligently to clear and clean the storm drains on the property and address areas potentially affected by the storm drains. In doing so, we are working closely with the County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Office of Emergency Management to resolve these issues. We will provide updates as the work proceeds under proper regulatory oversight.”

The source of the leak has been stopped. Wildlife care specialists with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network of Cordelia are on the scene and have already rescued at least two birds that are being treated at the San Francisco Wildlife Care and Education Center.

The specialists are walking along the banks and park looking for other birds and wildlife affected by the spill.

"It affects their feathers primarily which impacts their ability to thermos regulate so they preen a lot which means they are ingesting oil while they are cleaning their feathers," said Greg McGowan with the wildlife branch of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response.

Neighbors said the park is usually filled with gaggle of geese and migratory mallards and other birds. There are also turtles and beavers that live around the lake.

"We will continue to do reconnaissance, looking for birds, looking for behavior that is abnormal and other wildlife in the pond," McGowan said.

The Office of Health Hazard and Assessment will test water samples to see if there is any danger to the fish in the lake.

The Sacramento Fire Department is testing the air quality in the area because the spill happened near a neighborhood.

Crews will continue the cleanup Wednesday morning.