WALLULA, Wash. – UPDATE Nov. 13 4 p.m.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission provided an update, stating that the railcar spilled an estimated 2,600 gallons of diesel fuel into the Columbia River on Nov. 6.
UTC says crews completed cleanup operations on Nov. 8 and re-railed all railcars.
UPDATE Nov. 13 12:30 p.m.
Crews are still working on cleaning up the diesel fuel that spilled into the Columbia after a train derailment on Nov. 6.
The spill is still estimated to be about 1,400 gallons and is within the boom area, according to Stephanie May, a Communications Specialist with the Department of Ecology.
As cleanup efforts continue, the actual size of the spill could change and Ecology will be looking into it, according to May.
UPDATE Nov. 8
Acting Communications Manager for the Spill Section of the Department of Ecology Jasmine Adams says the amount of diesel that spilled into the Columbia River is now estimated to be 1,400 gallons.
Adams says this does not change Ecology’s approach to containing the spill. No additional contamination, oiled wildlife or dead animals have been found.
More details from Ecology are expected on Nov. 9.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE
Hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the Columbia River after an early morning derailment south of Wallula on Nov. 6.
Six Union Pacific railcars carrying frozen french fries derailed around 3:30 a.m., according to the railroad, causing about 650 gallons of diesel fuel that was used to run the cars’ generators being released into the river.
The spill was quickly contained to the eastern bank of the river with a boom and crews responded to the area.
Stephanie May, the communications manager with Washington’s Department of Ecology, says the weather and conditions that day helped this situation.
“…The majority of that spilled diesel was kept on the riverbank. So when the cleanup contractors added that boom around it, we really were able to keep it contained,” said May.
Cleanup operations are ongoing and emergency response authorities were notified of the spill.
Chief Mike Wickstrom with Walla Walla County Fire District 5 said they also responded to the scene later in the evening after there were concerns of a fire.
“…They wanted us to use our fire hoses to help cool the smoking area that the generator was at,” said Wickstrom. “We were able to do that and cool the vehicle.”
The official cause of the derailment and spill is now under investigation, according to Union Pacific.
