Fuel spill delays opening of new Wawa in Elizabethtown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A fuel spill at Elizabethtown's new Wawa has pushed back the store's grand opening until this fall.

About 1,500 gallons of fuel spilled July 20 at the Wawa on Ring Road, according to city officials.

Officials said the spill happened during a fuel-filtering process, sending the fuel into a storm drain on Wawa property. That drain connects directly to Wawa's underground stormwater detention system, which can hold about 66,750 gallons, according to the city of Elizabethtown.

The city said the detention system contained the fuel and prevented it from spreading off the property.

The store was originally scheduled to open July 29.

Now, crews are digging up the underground drainage system as part of the cleanup. The work is needed to make sure the area is safe, according to city officials.

The Kentucky Environmental Emergency Response Branch and Kentucky Division of Water are overseeing the cleanup. The Elizabethtown Fire Department and the city's Stormwater Department also responded to the spill.

The outlets from the underground detention system have been temporarily plugged to prevent any contaminated water or remaining fuel from leaving the system while cleanup continues.

Wawa said the cleanup has delayed construction, pushing the opening to sometime this fall. The store will be located on Ring Road and is expected to open once the cleanup and remaining construction are finished.

In a statement Monday, the city of Elizabethtown said, in part, that "there was never a threat to public safety or the environment."

"Subsequent investigation determined that no fuel entered the City of Elizabethtown's public stormwater system or nearby waterways," the statement continued.

WaWa also issued a statement Monday, which said the while "the store itself is not impacted," it cannot open until the lot is "fully remediated."

"We are taking all required measures to remediate the situation while working closely with state and local officials to follow their guidance and protocols," the statement said.

Both statements, in full, can be found below: