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Department of Ecology News Release - January 22, 2009
09-022
OLYMPIA – The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) has been fined for a spill that resulted when two trains near the Nisqually Delta collided in May 2007, spilling hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel and lube oil, and threatening groundwater and a nearby wetland.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued the UPRR a $52,500 fine for the spill, which contaminated groundwater downhill from the crash site.
A Federal Rail Administration report cited probable engineer fatigue and failure to comply with a warning light ahead of the Nisqually crossover as factors in the crash. Ecology considers the lack of attention to the warning signal “negligence” and increased the penalty accordingly.
“The southbound train was given a signal to slow or stop before reaching the crossover, a warning that should have prevented this crash and spill,” said Dale Jensen, Ecology’s spills program manager. “Ecology has a strong spill prevention focus and the financial and environmental costs of a spill are incredibly high.”
On May 16, 2007, two UPRR trains headed in opposite directions collided near the Nisqually Valley in Thurston County. A total of four locomotives and four loaded freight cars derailed. Environmental engineers estimated between 230 and 630 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from one locomotive. As much as 200 gallons of lube oil may have been released from two other locomotives.
Soil cleanup after the crash removed 84 gallons of diesel and 10 gallons of lube oil from the soil. Contractors drilled six groundwater monitoring wells at the scene and began monitoring three seep areas for remaining pockets of diesel and oil.
The amount of oil detected in the groundwater in one of the seep areas was above the state’s cleanup standards for toxic contamination. Oil was also found in the groundwater in a monitoring well.
The collision and spill took place on tracks owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), which oversaw the cleanup. BNSF retained a contractor to monitor the groundwater and seep areas.
UPRR has 30 days to pay the penalty, appeal to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board or seek Ecology reconsideration.
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 (desk)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
