St. Petersburg residents get a lesson in how not to dispose of heating oil

ST. PETERSBURG -- An expensive lesson in how not to dispose of old home heating oil is under way on Crescent Lake Drive, authorities say. The improper disposal of more than 40 gallons of heating oil on Tuesday has resulted in the removal today of about 2,900 gallons of contaminated soil from the residence.

The residents at a home in the 1500 block of Crescent Lake Drive were trying to remove a relic from the garage: a 250-gallon drum of old heating oil. But they didn't realize how much oil was inside or how heavy the drum was, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.

The residents tried to empty the drum by dumping the oil in the alley behind the house, according to Fire Rescue, then tried to wash away the spilled oil.

"They were just trying to hose it down," said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Joel Granata. "That is a big no-no."

The overwhelming smell prompted the residents to call for help. The state Department of Environmental Protection discovered that there were 600 parts per million of the contaminant in the soil. The acceptable range is 10 parts per million. So DEP gave the residents 72 hours to get the contaminated soil cleaned up. If the residents wait any longer, they can be fined.

"They’ve got to dig down into 2 feet of earth," said St. Petersburg Fire Inspector Robert Henderson. "Now they have to get rid of the contaminated soil.”

Anyone can dig up contaminated soil, but only a licensed contractor can transport it. The soil from the 65- by 3-foot trench is bound for an Environmental Protection Agency site in Mulberry.

The operation started at 8 a.m. today, could last all day and could cost several thousand dollars.

The residents are fortunate in one way: The city is providing free, clean dirt to fill the trench. But the residents could actually have made money off this situation.

"They could have sold the oil," Henderson said.

Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[nickatdabeach]

POLLUTERS - pure & simple

[the church]

I was thinking [really old] heating oil so they were just creeps to dump it down the drain so to speak. But to not even think of selling it? That's a potential $660; but surely would have bought food or something: Like an Ecology manual for dummies.

[CrowdSurf1]

Serves your rich, arrogant snobs a lesson! Try and take a shortcut and hide your illegal maneuver now you get shafted with thousands of dollars in bills!! HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

[Commonsense]

Where were their brains attached to? Must have turned into mush or something. A simple phone call to the city would have help prevent this but no they wanted to do it a sneaky way and hope that noone notices where it came from. That way the city can foot the bill. Good job neightbors for calling the cops. Nothing is going to improve in St Pete until we watch and care for the person next door.

[727guy]

I live in this neighborhood and can't believe these people, who live directly across the street from beautiful crescent lake, would have thought this was a good idea. If they had dumped the entire drum of oil, it surely would have contaminated the lake and killed birds and fish. Way to support the neighborhood! I notice they have a for sale sign out. I sure hope someone buys it and they move, before they decide to empty out more toxic garbage into the neighborhood.

[727guy]

Additionally, why are charges not being filed against these people? If they didn't report it themselves, they are in violation of FL law.

http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/planning_and_assistance/waste_oil_disposal.html

""Failure to report such a discharge is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment."

Why doesn't the article address this? Will there be fines or imprisonment assessed here? Sure seems like there ought to be, considering that neighbors had to call the FD, and not the residents themselves.

[cresent]

The sad thing is hundreds of people went by and no one called on their silly cell phones. The home owner dumps his tree trimmings in the park,lets the dog wonder in the park with no leash,or owner, waters the lawn 2p.m. at differant times of the week. Then dumps oil. I was told because they omitted they did it, they will not be arrested.I called several differant agency`s to report the spill, was told " Try this number." Next try this #,And this # and this #. The lady at code compliance hang up because I did`nt know the house # at the end of the street. I spent over 1/2 hour calling. At that point I was asking If they could call someone becuase I had things to do, but did they NO!Finally was transferd to the police and they called the F.D. were than I met them. If you see this going on call 911! on dumping!

[cresent]

what kind of umbrella do they have to allow them to do this. If we get caught peeing in the park, we would be arrested and maybe booked, court, and a record, who do these people work for?

[cresent]

speaking of peeing in the park, where do the kids go to the bathroom during the track meets in the park at crescent lake? Before building a new baseball field, can the community park have a bathroom?

[727guy]

@cresent - I believe proposals for freestanding bathrooms at crescent lake have been rejected because they tend to be magnets for drug users and the homeless. During the meets kids probably use the bathrooms at local businesses like Panera, and during special events they rent port-o-lets. I think the park is better off without a freestanding bathroom.

[cresent]

sunday 9:05 their old orange dog is on no leash just took anther dump in the park next to their house.