Construction of an underwater pipeline at Lake Lanier has been halted after a crane used for the project accidentally sank into the shallows, the Gwinnett Department of Water Resources reported Thursday.

No one was hurt during the incident, which happened Wednesday, and a small gas leak was contained, posing no environmental danger, according to department officials.

The National Response Center was notified of the incident because of the oil sheen on the water made by diesel fuel from the crane's fuel tank. The contractor, Oscar Renda Inc., blocked the small inlet to prevent boats and other traffic from getting close to the site. The contractor quickly installed oil booms and absorbent material to contain the small amount of leaked diesel within the 60 feet by 60 feet area, according to a Water Resources news release.

The fuel will be cleaned up as quickly as practical, and the crane will be removed from the water, officials said.

"We do not believe the small amount of diesel will be a threat to our water supply, to the lake or to others downstream," said Tyler Richards, Deputy Director for Water Resources Operations. "When we were notified of the accident, we took the extra precaution of making sure that all raw water is taken from our Lanier intake, which is over a mile from the construction site, until the situation is stabilized and operations are back to normal at the construction site."

Crews for the contractor, Oscar Renda Inc., were walking the crane from the shore of Lake Lanier onto a floating barge when an anchor cable came loose and the barge shifted, allowing the crane (that was partially on the barge and partially on the shore) to slide into the shallow water of the inlet used for the construction entrance to the lake.

"These things happen with large equipment sometimes," Lynn Smarr, Acting Water Resources Director, said in a news release. "Fortunately, the construction delay should only be temporary."

— Larry Hicks