Secaucus Data Center Experiences 5,500-Gallon Diesel Spill into Anderson Creek
Approximately 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from an Equinix data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, flowing into Anderson Creek. This incident, caused by valve failures, marks the largest data center-related fuel spill in the state's history. Environmental groups are calling for New Jersey to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix.
A significant environmental incident occurred on September 11 in Secaucus, New Jersey, when approximately 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from a storage tank at an Equinix data center on Hartz Way. The fuel flowed into Anderson Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River. Equinix attributed the spill to a failure of two valves in the fuel filtration process, stating staff detected and stopped the release, initiating cleanup efforts with Clean Harbors. Local authorities, including the Secaucus Fire Department, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Hudson Regional Health Commission, were notified.
Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli described the incident as a "computer glitch," noting the facility's 25-year history without prior issues. However, the spill is reportedly the largest data center-related fuel release in New Jersey's history, significantly surpassing previous incidents like a 600-gallon spill in Clifton in 2017 and an 1,800-gallon Equinix spill in North Bergen in 2022. By the following Monday, crews had recovered about 3,500 gallons, and the DEP reported the spill was contained within Anderson Creek, not reaching the Hackensack River, with no immediate wildlife impact or threat to drinking water.
Environmental advocate Bill Sheehan of Hackensack Riverkeeper expressed skepticism regarding the long-term "no impact" assessment, emphasizing the critical role of tributaries in the ecosystem. Sheehan advocates for the state to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix, similar to a previous legal action following a 1994 caustic soda spill that funded a major restoration project. As of the article's publication, New Jersey had not announced any fines or enforcement actions against Equinix.
The spill has intensified the ongoing debate about data center regulation across the state. Ben Dziobek of the Climate Revolution Action Network criticized the industry's operation "without any rules." Mayor Gonnelli highlighted the broader challenge, noting that even towns like Jersey City and Bayonne, which have banned data centers, remain vulnerable to environmental incidents from facilities located upstream in other municipalities.