Aug. 30, 2001 – A gasoline spill during a routine fueling of underground tanks at the Texaco gas station across from the Frenchtown Post Office backed traffic up for hours Thursday morning and brought Fire Services, Police, Planning and Natural Resources, Texaco and the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency personnel together to address the potentially dangerous situation.
According to Texaco's marketing director, Winthrop Maduro, 50 to 60 gallons of gas were spilled onto the pavement while the underground tanks were being filled.
Most of the fuel drained into a storm sewer adjacent to the property. Some of the fuel was recovered immediately by the Texaco emergency management team, the first group to respond. The rest soaked into the soil and debris in a storm drain but was expected to be "sponged up" within a few hours, mitigating any potential danger or damage from the spill.
In the meantime, the highway was closed between the Seaborne Aviation ramp and Banco Popular on Veterans drive.
VITEMA's director, Harold Baker, said at an impromptu news conference at the scene that his agency "procedurally did what we were supposed to do" in response to news of the spill.
He expressed confidence that there was no danger to the community and said he expected the mop-up operation to be completed by about 2 p.m.
Maduro, contacted by the Source, agreed with Baker. He said tests run by Fire Services determined there was no danger to those in the area from fumes, fire or explosion.
Maduro commended the Texaco emergency team and the government agencies for prompt and professional response to the spill.
Harwood Highway north of Veterans Drive was open to traffic, but congestion was reportedly still heavy at mid-day.
