UC Berkeley Diesel Spill

On Dec. 10, an underground storage tank that supplied a backup generator located at Stanley Hall on the University’s campus in Berkeley spilled 1,650 gallons of diesel fuel. About 850 gallons of the spilled diesel entered a storm drain and was then discharged into Strawberry Creek, an urban stream that runs directly into the San Francisco Bay. The Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard responded. the University performed cleanup with oversight by the OSPR. In 2013, the State Water Resources Control Board reviewed the University’s overall management of underground storage tanks and discovered numerous additional violations including, among other things, failure to monitor for leaks, failure to maintain adequate spill containment, and failure to provide adequate corrosion protection. The State Water Board and OSPR collaborated in reaching a $449,000 settlement with the Regents of the University of California regarding the improper storage of hazardous substances in underground storage tanks and natural resource damage violations. For settlement details see the news release at Settlement News Release.

News Releases

UC Berkeley NR004 - Settlement for Underground Storage Tank Violations

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Settlement Reached With University of California Regents for Underground Storage Tank Violations and Natural Resource Damages - The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) have collaborated in reaching a $449,000 settlement with the Regents of the University of California regarding the improper storage of hazardous substances in underground storage tanks and natural resource damage violations.

UC Berkeley NR003

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Creek Cleanup Winding Down - Officials announced today (Friday, Jan. 13), that the active diesel fuel cleanup effort at Strawberry Creek is winding down as the operation moves to a monitoring and maintenance phase.

UC Berkeley NR002

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Creek Cleanup & Notification Continue - UC Berkeley officials, working in coordination with federal, state and local agencies, have begun distributing informational flyers to city of Berkeley property owners who live along the Strawberry Creek area affected by the Dec. 10 diesel fuel spill that originated on the campus.

UC Berkeley NR001

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Stanley Hall Reopens after Diesel Spill - A multi-agency crew that includes the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game and local public works officials is assessing the entire length of Strawberry Creek today to see how clean-up efforts are progressing following a diesel fuel spill Saturday in Stanley Hall.