BAYONNE -- An underground pipeline in a Bayonne park that was discovered to be leaking yesterday has spewed at least 3,000 gallons of oil and is currently undergoing repairs, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said today that the leaking pipeline -- located in Halecky-IMTT Park at the east end of 27th Street -- was reported to the DEP at 12:40 p.m. yesterday, but that it's not known when the line actually broke.

"Responders are out on the scene. They're excavating and using vacuums to pull up the oil," Hajna said, adding that as of about 3:30 p.m., workers had recovered roughly 3,000 gallons of the stuff.

The DEP said the leak has not affected any waterways, and that it's not a threat to public health and safety.

IMTT, a liquid storage and handling facility, owns the pipeline and took it out of service several months ago to carry out repairs and upgrades, but the leak is stemming from residual oil left in the out-of-service line, Hajna said.

"Presuming that there are no other leaks in the pipeline, and that we have the leak identified, there will be no more going into the environment. It will be collected by the vacuuming operation," he said. "There is an area that has soil saturated with oil and that will have to be excavated and backfilled with clean fill at some point."

IMTT has assumed responsibility for cleaning up the area, and will be reimbursing the state for any costs incurred by the DEP when the DEP initially responded to the emergency, DEP spokeswoman Caryn Shinske added.

The DEP identified the oil that has leaked as "Number 2 fuel oil," which is also known as heating oil and is used for "domestic heating or for moderate capacity commercial/industrial burner units," according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's website.

The DEP said it's not known whether the leak has been stopped and when repairs on the broken pipeline will be completed.

Meanwhile, contrary to the DEP's version of events, Tim Boyle, head of the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority, said the leak is coming from a line that is in service. Asked about the discrepancy, the DEP said IMTT said the line is out of service.

When contacted, IMTT couldn't immediately provide information on the matter, or provide information in response to other inquiries.

Boyle also said authorities were notified last night about the oil leak, as opposed to yesterday afternoon.

Earlier today, Bayonne police, IMTT firefighters, IMTT-contracted engineering firm Mott MacDonald, SUEZ, Ken's Marine Service, The Napp-Grecco Company and other agencies and contractors were at the site of the clean-up.

Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.