Waller Creek Oil Spill Update

In case you weren't aware, in January 2008 approximately 10,000 gallons of oil leaked into Waller Creek. The City of Austin reports long-term effects that will damage the ecosystem of Waller Creek but will have no affect on Lady Bird Lake ( I don't buy that. As we learned in the last blog, Waller Creek pours into Lady Bird Lake.)
Until now, the question concerning the spill was: who would be held responsible?
According to the Daily Texan story the Littlefield Building on Sixth Street is the proprietor of the storage tank. Although the sole owner cannot be pinned down, the property owner where the tank is located is responsible, even though the installation of the tank dates back to December of 1910.
The tanks were used for heating and lighting in downtown Austin more than 100 years ago. Until recently, the tanks were unused and ignored. The City of Austin has not yet determined if there are any other combustible tanks.
Unfortunately, there are no requirements for identifying these hazardous tanks that are potentially contaminant.
It's a sticky situation and yet another reason to do the Waller Creek Cleanup. Don't forget to register!