Diesel spill at New Jersey data center raises questions about cleanup
A diesel spill of about 5,000 gallons at an Equinix data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, has raised concerns among nearby residents about cleanup and potential impacts on the Hackensack River and surrounding wetlands. A Rutgers biology professor said some contamination can be removed, but tidal flows could spread diesel beyond the drainage channel and complete cleanup is unlikely.
Approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel spilled at an Equinix data center in Secaucus, prompting residents to question whether the contamination is being properly cleaned up. John Meyer, a Secaucus resident, said neighbors are concerned about protecting the waterfront, wildlife and vegetation around the Hackensack River and Meadowlands.
Rutgers University biology professor Dr. Joanna Burger said oil spills that reach land or moving water can be partially remediated, but it is impossible to remove all contamination. She said the extent of the spill's spread will depend in part on tidal conditions in the drainage channel, with regular or high-tide flows potentially carrying diesel into surrounding waterways.