Multiple agencies respond to Harbor Island diesel spill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 1:02 a.m., June 21, 2011
Contacts:

• Dieter Bohrmann, Department of Ecology media relations (509-420-3874)
• Nate Littlejohn, U.S. Coast Guard public affairs (816-582-1725)

SEATTLE – The Washington Department of Ecology, Union Pacific Railroad, the U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Public Utilities and a cleanup contractor are responding to a diesel fuel spill from a Union Pacific locomotive on Harbor Island. The spill was reported to Ecology at 7:40 p.m. Monday.

Union Pacific Railroad has hired NRC Environmental Services to conduct the cleanup effort. The contractor estimated that 600 gallons of fuel spilled to the gravel railroad bed when the engine and two railcars went off the track. The release has been stopped, and no impacts to water have been observed.

The locomotive held up to 2,500 gallons of fuel. It was estimated to be carrying 1,500 gallons. The contractor used a vacuum truck to remove the remaining 900 gallons of fuel from the engine.

An investigation is under way on the cause of the derailment. More information about the spill will be provided as it becomes available.

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Ecology Spills Program: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html

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