Cleanup crews are scrubbing Anderson Creek in New Jersey’s Meadowlands after 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel gushed from an Equinix data center in Secaucus. The leak, discovered on Friday evening, flowed into the narrow waterway before authorities could fully isolate it. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the spill originated at the facility and stated that containment barriers prevented the fuel from reaching the larger Hackensack River.
Larry Hajna, a spokesperson for the DEP, noted that the creek's small, narrow profile allowed for effective containment. This technical detail is critical because Anderson Creek feeds directly into the Hackensack River, a waterway already listed on the federal Superfund registry in 2022. The Hackensack River is currently the focus of a multi-year, federally funded cleanup to remove decades of industrial pollution. A new diesel spill threatens to undo years of remediation work in a region already struggling with environmental recovery.
Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, observed contractors installing booms across the creek on Saturday afternoon. He warned that tributaries act as the capillary system of the ecosystem, meaning any contamination here seeps into the broader river network. Sheehan has called on state authorities to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix. He cited a 1994 incident where a barge spill of 310,000 gallons of caustic soda led to a damages claim that funded major restoration at Lincoln Park in Jersey City. “The money came from the polluter across the river that spilled their barge,” Sheehan said. “This time it was a data center close to the river that spilled its oil. I think we should get a damage fund for that.”
Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli backed the push for financial accountability. “I want to go after them as best we can,” Gonnelli said. He noted that the Equinix facility has operated in Secaucus for 25 years without prior major incidents. However, the spill has reignited a fierce debate over the rapid expansion of data centers across New Jersey. Nearly 100 municipalities in the state have enacted bans on new data center development, citing concerns over energy consumption and environmental risk.
Equinix has hired Clean Harbors to manage the remediation, with vacuum trucks removing the fuel-water mixture for off-site treatment. The company stated it will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the leak. The DEP has not yet indicated whether Equinix will face fines or other enforcement actions. Hajna said he did not have information about potential penalties. The immediate next step is the completion of the physical cleanup, expected to take several days, followed by a determination on liability and potential restoration funding.
Environmental activists see this incident as a catalyst for broader regulatory action. Ben Dziobek, executive director of Climate Revolution Action Network, urged Governor Mikie Sherrill to impose a statewide moratorium on new data centers. “Leaving this to individual towns doesn’t make any sense,” Dziobek said. “Data centers create problems that don’t stop at municipal boundaries, whether it’s pollution or straining the grid and driving up everyone’s electric bills.” Sherrill’s office declined to comment, referring inquiries to the DEP. The outcome of the damages claim will likely shape future policy discussions on data center siting in the state.