Williamette River Diesel Spill

[nosmokes]

The worst part about this story to come out so far is that everything was right as rain, no laws or regulations broken,no corners cut, no steps skipped or neglect.Ifthis is how it's Supposed to work we're fucked.
--###--

original-register-guard

Crews mop riverfront diesel spill A Tyree Oil leak remains a threat to wildlife on the Willamette near Valley River Center

By Matt Cooper

The Register-Guard

Published: Jan 26, 2009 04:10PM


Officials worked for a second day Sunday on a diesel spill from Tyree Oil Inc. that reached the Willamette River north of downtown Eugene, threatening wildlife and leaving an odorous, oily sheen on the water, the state Department of Environmental Quality said.

A storage tank leak estimated at as much as 500 gallons had mostly been contained by the afternoon but continued to endanger birds and other animals along nearly 250 feet of riverfront near the Greenway Bike Bridge southwest of Valley River Center, the state said.

Tyree said the faulty tank is “older” but had been in compliance with all regulatory agencies — local, state and federal — at the time of its failure.

The cleanup is expected to continue at least through today, with workers “mopping up” along the banks, said Julie Berndt, spill response coordinator for the state department.

Fuel accumulated in a city-installed stormwater treatment filter, and as much as 150 gallons collected near Maurie Jacobs Park, just east of the bike bridge, Berndt said.

Berndt said the state department was satisfied with the company’s response to the incident. She noted, however, that any discharge of oil to state waters is a violation of state environmental law and could bring fines levied for each day of a violation.

Officials and environmental consultants thought they had contained the spill Saturday without risk to the river and were surprised Sunday to learn that the Willamette had been contaminated, Berndt said.

“Everybody felt comfortable (Saturday) that it wasn’t going to enter any waters of the state by any means. They felt like they addressed that,” Berndt said Sunday. “We’re still not sure where it left the property from.”

~snip~
.
.
.
complete article here

[Buzz Clik]

1. Couple of things here...

They violated state laws and will be penalized.

500 gallons is a small leak, and 250 feet of shoreline isn't much. And, fortunately, diesel is very easy to clean up.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Can't wait to hear Thom Hartmann's take on this one.

This would literally hit close to home for him, since I believe he lives on a houseboat, parked on the Willamette River in Portland.