Diesel fuel spill in lawn area

[lucky4511]

I have a client who has an area approximately 30' x 4' that had diesel fuel leak out of a piece of equipment left there by her homeowners association. She has asked me about costs to repair damages. I think the soil should be excavated and replaced - does anyone have experience with this type of problem or any ideas of who I should refer to for specific recommendations?

[tamadrummer]

Just wait a couple of months and it will be filled in. If you need to, you should be able to seed and fertilize it now.

I have had 2xs now an entire tank of mix fuel spill in customers yards and as long as it is fertilized and gets water, it fills in just fine.

[Smallaxe]

If the gov't get wind of it and you have moved it you will be responsible for the contamination of the area you moved it to.
We had a similar problem with gas during the winter. Spring cleanup meant bagging the leaves for the gov't officials to, "ok" b4 I could haul them away.

They removed about 6" of soil and put down some GM bacteria to decontaminate the site. I imagine the soil was taken to a 'superfund' site.

Otherwise the diesel will decompose over time and I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just be careful not to make yourself responsible for any contaminated soil.

[bam]

in situ bioremediation - the diesel will break down over time due to the microorganisms in the soil.

we had a 300 gal. above ground oil tank leak a portion onto asphalt and into some soil. The state official said don't have to do anything to the asphalt, since oil is a component, and for the soil, till it in place and add a balanced fert and some compost, when the smell is gone, the diesel has broken down.

for quicker results, you'd have to excavate several inches of the soil and replace. But no one is going to want the contaminated soil.