GRAVETTE -- Replacing a sewer line in Gravette which was contaminated by a gasoline spill or leak four years ago is scheduled to begin early next month.
The line, which runs parallel on the east side of Highway 59 north of Main Street, was infiltrated by a fuel leak which occurred at the Shop-N-Go service station. The leak was discovered the afternoon of Jan. 12, 2010. It forced the eventual closing of the business.
The city was notified last week by Crossland Heavy Contractors of Rogers they have received a contract issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to replace the 8-inch line.
"As there will be some temporary inconvenience regarding traffic flow, we are informing you in advance of the construction," wrote Jason DeZurik, project manager for the job, in a communication to Gravette Mayor Byron Warren.
Corey Reardon, who heads the Gravette water/sewer departments, said the line starting at the north edge of the station property south to the alley behind Main Street is involved. Plastic pipe will replace between 600 to 1,000 feet of the old clay pipe which probably was installed in 1950 as part of the city's original sewer system.
Work is scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 3.
"The first order of business will be exposing a 12-inch water line located at the north side of the Shop-N-Go property. Additionally, there is some question as to the existence of a second water line in the immediate vicinity of the work area," DeZurik wrote.
He requested that water department personnel be present when the 12-inch line is uncovered.
The spill or leak accident from an above-ground storage tank at the station forced cordoning off Gravette Main Street one night and residents between First and Second Avenue, N.E., were forced to evacuate. No accidents or injuries occurred during the ensuing night-time hours while assessment of the possible danger and a plan of action could be determined
A Hazmat team was joined by Benton County Emergency Management personnel and state officials in making that determination. Hazardous fumes were present in Marvin's grocery store, some two blocks south, until the sewer line was flushed several times. Main Street businesses were able to open the following morning.
At the time, it was estimated that as many as 1,600 gallons of fuel saturated the ground surrounding the tank and, in the process, infiltrated damaged old clay sewer line piping.
The replacement project has been under the direction of and in the hands of the state agency since the accident occurred four years ago this month.
General News on 01/29/2014