Some 500 liters of unleaded gasoline spilled into the city’s drainage during the transfer of the fuel from a tanker to the underground storage tank of a Sea Oil gas station on Wednesday morning.
DENR Environment Management Bureau-NCR director Arnulfo Hernandez said the closure order would be in effect until the oil company properly deals with the odor problem caused by the spill.
As this developed, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Casimiro Ynares III ordered the issuance of a notice of violation against the gasoline station.
This developed as the LLDA found out that the gas station, which is reportedly purely engaged in fuel refilling, was operating without a valid LLDA clearance.
"I have also ordered the imposition of appropriate sanctions and penalties upon conclusion of the investigation," Ynares said.
The LLDA said the oil spill occurred at the Sea Oil gasoline station located on Market Avenue in Barangay Palatiw at 7 a.m. on July 19.
Preliminary investigation by the LLDA showed that the spill took place during the transfer of unleaded gasoline from the tanker to the underground storage tank of the gas station.
The LLDA said the storage tank, which has a capacity of 7,000 liters, was not sufficient to accommodate the volume of fuel being transferred.
Fuel flowed on the pavement into the city’s drainage, the LLDA noted.
Visual inspection, however, showed that the spillage did not reach the nearby creek, which may be attributed to the clogged drainage line of the city.
"Clearing operation is ongoing at the gasoline station when the LLDA investigating team arrived. Of the estimated 500 liters of spilled unleaded gasoline, only 200 liters mixed with water was recovered at the time of the inspection," the LLDA said.
Five personnel of the station were deployed for the cleanup operation and recovery of the unleaded gasoline from the drainage line.
"The immediate concern is to recover the remaining spilled fuel and prevent it from further flowing into the canals," the LLDA said.
CENRO director Arnulfo Hernandez said they ordered the closure to properly deal with the odor.
The Bureau of Fire and Safety in Pasig City ordered the immediate cleaning and retrieval of the fuel to prevent other possible problems, the LLDA added. — With Non Alquitran