WEST BOUNTIFUL — Holly Frontier crews continue to clean up areas of West Bountiful and Woods Cross after oil sprayed from a storage tank last Thursday evening.
A Holly spokesman said the accident was caused by over-pressurization that split the tank’s cover and released fuel oil.
Now, the Utah Division of Water Quality is waiting for tests results conducted on Mill Creek, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality is examining whether Holly exceeded its daily air pollution limit.
The accident occurred about 6:45 p.m., spraying about 200 barrels of oil onto buildings, cars and roads immediately southeast of the tank, according to Holly spokesman Mike Astin. The oil release particularly impacted the mobile home park to the east of the refinery. No one was hurt.
Crews spent the night Thursday and into Friday cleaning up the oil. Astin said it is not hazardous, but it left a heavy oily residue that is slippery and messy.
South Davis Metro Fire Agency was initially called out.
“Our concern was that the oil was hazardous,” said SDMFA Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Bassett. “When we discovered it was not hazardous material, we pulled out.”
Astin said the Utah Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad were notified and they cleaned up the I-15 on-ramp and railroad tracks, but Holly crews were out pressure-washing everything else, Astin said.
The oil film covered cars in area neighborhoods. Those whose cars have been covered may call the refinery care line at 801-560-5511 to receive a certificate to have their cars cleaned and detailed.
Astin said he believes the tank will be shut down for a while as investigators determine the cause of the over-pressurization.


