A lawsuit filed this week by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says owners of a southeastern Minnesota gas station ignored safety equipment for more than a month as thousands of gallons of gas leaked into the soil, contaminating the city's water system and sewers.
The MPCA says holes in two fuel pipes caused more than 10,000 gallons of gas to leak at the Cenex in Elgin. They're seeking reimbursement for the more than $1 million it's spent on cleanup and repair since March of 2022.
The leak was initially discovered when the city received a complaint that a gas odor was coming from a storm sewer near the gas station.
So far almost half of the gasoline has been recovered through clean-up efforts.
Two fuel pipes with holes – one the size of a dime - were leaking more than three gallons of gasoline per hour according to the MPCA. Observation wells had approximately two and a half feet of gasoline floating on top of the water. Gasoline entered the city’s storm sewer system that leads to a nearby trout stream. State agencies do not believe any fish were killed during this leak.
The MPCA continues to work with Elgin city officials and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to address the contamination and ensure the public’s safety, but additional concerns and significant cleanup efforts remain.
When the contamination was confirmed at levels above health standards in drinking water, residents were provided with bottled water and water filtration resources.
The MPCA says there remains unstable drinking water and the public’s health and safety are an ongoing concern. As seasonal groundwater levels change, the plume can move or expand continuing to put groundwater and surface water at risk.
The entire court filing for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency versus defendants Gurek Inc. and Tejinder Singh is available here.