Diesel Fuel Spilled on National Mall During 250th Event Setup [View all]

Diesel fuel has spilled onto the National Mall at least twice in the past two weeks during preparations for an event celebrating the country’s 250th birthday, according to a government document and a spokeswoman for the Interior Department.

The first spill occurred on May 20 and contaminated a cistern that provides water for irrigating the grass on the Mall in the heart of Washington, according to the document and the spokeswoman. The second incident happened Wednesday night, and its environmental impact remains unclear.

The total amount of diesel released on the Mall is not certain. The federal government said the first spill involved 30 gallons of fuel, while the nonprofit organizing the event said it was between 2 gallons and 2.5 gallons. Neither party said how much fuel leaked in the second incident.

In both cases, the fuel came from supply lines connected to diesel-powered lighting systems installed for the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event that is set to kick off on June 25 and transform the Mall into a sprawling festival ground.




https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/climate/diesel-fuel-spill-national-mall.html