Gasoline leaking from an underground storage tank last week at 925 Warren Road prompted temporary evacuation of one Cornell University building and clean-up operations that included removing the tank. Approximately 800 gallons of gasoline leaked into surrounding soil from the tank, which had been used by Laboratory Animal Services. One of several owned by Cornell's statutory colleges, the 40-year-old tank was scheduled for replacement later this year by an above-ground fuel tank. Gasoline fumes were first reported around 10 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Equine Drug Testing and Research Program building, one of the university facilities near the Tompkins County Airport. Personnel returned to the building the following day, after adjustments to laboratory ventilation systems prevented gasoline fumes from being drawn into the structure. There were no injuries. The facility is involved in testing race horses for illegal drugs and in developing new drug-screening techniques.

A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation inspector at the scene determined that the gasoline had not affected local ground water supplies or streams. The university hired outside contractors to remove the leaking tank and clean the contaminated soil.