The Charlottesville Oil Co. initiated a cleanup of petroleum-contaminated soil on Ivy Road last Wednesday, according to the Daily Progress. The company has until Nov. 28 to excavate the contaminated soil.
The Charlottesville Oil Co. was not able to comment on the incident.
"The type of contamination experienced by leaking petroleum products is serious, but it is also very common," Environmental Science Prof. Aaron Mills said. "Remediation is almost always effective in eliminating or at least greatly reducing the consequences of that contamination."
According to University Environmental Compliance Manager Jeffrey A. Sitler, the contamination is a condition that can be improved.
"Remediation is almost always effective in eliminating or at least greatly reducing the consequences of that contamination," Sitler said, adding that the low permeability of the soil in this area of Virginia makes excavation the most effective method of dealing with contamination.
Sitler also said the geologic conditions of the site, including the soil's low permeability, make excavation the most effective method of removing the contaminated soil.
"If enough oil is released to a water body, it will impact the organisms in a number of ways, including toxicity by direct contact and oxygen depravation," Sitler said.
In the long run, the contamination could eventually take care of itself, but excavation would speed the process.
"As long as another spill or leak does not occur, the contamination that remains will eventually degrade by the naturally-occurring bacteria found in the site soil," Sitler said.
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