February 19, 2026
A product line failure from the Central Oil gas station is the suspected source of the fuel contamination in Culebra Creek. The leak related to the product line failure at Central Oil was quickly repaired and is no longer releasing fuel to the environment. The drain scoping to rule out other potential sources remains ongoing.
A “product line failure” is when a line that carries fuel from an underground storage tank to a dispenser, or another component of the petroleum storage system, develops a leak in it. This can result from normal line usage over time and is often detected through line testing or visual observation.
It is suspected that residual fuel that leaked into the environment from the Central Oil gas continues to impact Culebra Creek through the underground drainage system. Clean up of that residual fuel remains ongoing.
Central Oil has hired an environmental consultant to investigate the extent and magnitude of fuel contamination associated with their product line failure, and they will develop and implement a cleanup plan to address impacts to all receptors, including Culebra Creek. Depending on their findings, the assessment and cleanup process can take more than a year before this release event is closed.