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Department of Ecology News Release - April 15, 2008
08-089
OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has levied a $366,000 fine against Puget Sound Energy (PSE) after an estimated 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at a company backup electrical generating station near the Crystal Mountain ski area in Pierce County on Nov. 3, 2006.
The November 2006 spill happened in mountainous terrain with rocky soil at the same time as record-setting rainfall and flooding. The geography and weather forced the spilled fuel down into the rocks further and faster than normal.
Red-dyed diesel fuel entered nearby Silver Creek and adjacent wetlands that were below the generating station.
The creek is an important salmon-bearing stream – and a tributary of the White River that flows into Puget Sound. The spill happened in an area of cultural significance to the Muckleshoot Tribe.
“PSE took quick responsibility for the situation and did a commendable job responding to the spill and cleaning it up,” said Spills Program Manager Dale Jensen. “However, Ecology’s highest priority is preventing spills from occurring. The diesel fuel entered a tributary stream that eventually flows into to Puget Sound, adding to the toxic load of this already threatened estuary system.”
Jensen noted that PSE spent more than $16 million in response and cleanup costs, reimbursed Ecology $90,000 for its response costs, and cooperated fully during the joint Ecology-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation of the incident.
“PSE regrets that the spill occurred. Our employees and contractors accomplished a quick comprehensive response despite being faced with some of the most severe weather conditions our state has experienced in more than 100 years. PSE reached out to work collaboratively with Ecology, the EPA, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), state Department of Health, and the Tacoma Pierce County Heath Department,” said Steve Secrist, director of Environmental Policy for PSE.
“PSE accepts full responsibility and will continue to work with Ecology and others to make sure we do everything we can to protect the environment. We have implemented extensive remediation, revegetation and protective measures at Crystal Mountain that significantly reduce the likelihood that a similar spill will occur and ensure that backup protections are in place for such an unlikely event,” Secrist said.
Due to concern that the spill may have threatened nearby drinking water wells, some households received bottled water from PSE until the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and state Department of Health concluded that no wells had been contaminated.
Diesel fuel migrated downhill below the surface and had to be dug out by heavy equipment to prevent further contamination of Washington waters. The equivalent of 2,300 10-cubic-yard dump truck loads of contaminated soil was excavated from the spill area and generator site, and removed for disposal as petroleum-contaminated soil.
Ecology, EPA, the U.S. Forest Service, and PSE responders and contractors spent more than a month during the emergency phase at the site cleaning up the spill. Of the approximately 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled, responders estimate that more than 10,000 gallons were eventually recovered.
The rest of the fuel is thought to have flowed into Silver Creek – although small amounts are still being detected in underground monitoring wells.
Ecology and EPA concluded that the spill occurred after an electrical switch on the system that delivers diesel fuel to the engine that operates the electrical generator burned out.
At some point thereafter the switch became stuck in the “on” position resulting in diesel fuel being continuously pumped to a small tank that feeds the generator engine. Fuel overflowed the tank before the spill was discovered and the pump station shut down.
Dave Byers, who oversees Ecology’s statewide spill response activities, said that diesel fuel, like all petroleum products, is an environmental poison.
“Even though PSE was using its best efforts to keep fuel out of Silver Creek, diesel fuel continued to be discharged into the creek for over 30 days,” he said.
Byers noted that state lawmakers raised the penalty amount for negligent spills five-fold in 2007. “This clearly was a spill that should have been prevented. If the spill would have occurred after the 2007 penalty increase, PSE could have faced a fine of nearly $2 million.”
The incident was the largest oil spill affecting fresh water sources in Washington since the June 10, 1999, 277,000-gallon gasoline spill from the Olympic pipeline in Whatcom County.
Under Ecology’s direction, PSE has continued to monitor the site. Thousands of soil and underground (ground) water samples have been analyzed to identify the area of contamination.
Surface water sampling has shown no diesel fuel entering Silver Creek since May 2007 – although activities to capture and treat contaminated ground water will continue for several more months.
PSE may appeal the penalty to Ecology and to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
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Media Contact: Curt Hart, 360-407-6990; cell, 360-480-7908 (char461@ecy.wa.gov)
For more information about the 2006 PSE-Crystal Mountain spill: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/PSECrystalMountainSpill_110306/PSECrystalMountain_home.html
For more information about Ecology’s Spills Program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
