Ecology responds to diesel spill after trucks collide near Walla Walla

By Jani Gilbert, Communication Manager, Eastern Region Office

SPOKANE – The state Department of Ecology responded today to a diesel spill that occurred this morning on State Route 730 at milepost 1 on the Washington side of the Columbia River, west of Walla Walla. The Washington State Patrol responded originally to the injury collision that involved two semi trucks.

The spill was reported to Ecology at about 10 a.m. Approximately 200 gallons of diesel oil was spilled onto the highway and into a ditch, but it did not go to any surface water, such as a river or lake.

One truck was owned by Medelez Inc. of Hermiston, Ore. The other was from the Vidal Fuendes Co., also of Hermiston. The 200 gallons of fuel were released from fuel tanks on both of the semis.

Also responding to the incident are the Washington Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad. State Route 730 is next to and runs parallel to the railroad. Together, the agencies and the railroad are working to identify the extent of the contamination, plan cleanup strategies, and bring in private spill contractors to conduct the cleanup.

You can find information on this and other incidents on the Spills Program Incident page .

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