MARCH 3, 2015
YAKIMA RIVER NEAR SUNNYSIDE, WASHINGTON
In this aerial photo taken Monday, March 2, 2015, and
provided by the Washington Dept. of Ecology, oil makes a slick on the Sulphur
Creek near where it flows into the Yakima River near Sunnyside, Wash.
The
Washington state Ecology Department said Tuesday, March 3, 2015, that about 50
birds have been covered in oil from the spill that leaked as much as 1,500
gallons of used motor oil into irrigation canals and the Yakima River.
Source: Washington Dept. of Ecology
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DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
NEWS RELEASE - MARCH 3, 2015
ATTENTION TURNS TO
WILDLIFE AT SUNNYSIDE OIL SPILL
CLEANUP CONTINUES WHERE 1,500-GALLON OIL TANK LEAKED TO CREEK, YAKIMA RIVER
CLEANUP CONTINUES WHERE 1,500-GALLON OIL TANK LEAKED TO CREEK, YAKIMA RIVER
MARCH 3, 2015
SUNNYSIDE, WASHINGTON
At least 50 birds have been observed as having
been oiled as a result of a 1,500- gallon oil spill to Sulphur Creek and the
Yakima River near Sunnyside, Wash., in Yakima County.
The area is home to hundreds of species of fish and
wildlife. This time of year the area supports wintering and migrating waterfowl
as well as river otters, muskrats and beaver. Sloughs and wetlands are critical
rearing habitat for resident fish.
The wildlife rehabilitation organization FOCUS Wildlife is
on scene and will evaluate the impacts to waterfowl and other wildlife,
including how animals may be rehabilitated.
Citizens should not attempt to capture any oiled wildlife.
Such efforts could endanger the safety both of the public and animals.
Volunteers are not needed at this time.
Oiled animals may be reported by leaving a detailed message
at 1-800-22BIRDS (1-800-222-4737) or email OiledWildlifeReporting@dfw.wa.gov.
Oil
spilled Sunday, March 1, when an above-ground storage tank failed at a
former feedlot northwest of Sunnyside. The oil leaked to a network of ditches,
quickly filling Sulphur Creek, and reaching the Yakima River near Mabton. A
light sheen of oil was seen as far south as Prosser, some 14 miles away.
A unified command of the Washington departments of Ecology
and Fish and Wildlife, Yakama Nation, U.S. EPA and Deaton Land LLC, continues
to work the spill.
The tank is no longer leaking and the majority of the oil is
contained in Sulphur Creek. Oil is being vacuumed up and protective boom is in
place at multiple locations including where the creek drains into the Yakima
River and at the Yakama Nation Fish Hatchery near Prosser.
“Our oil recovery operations are ongoing and we are having
good success collecting oil, particularly in the Sulphur Creek area,” said
incident commander Jeff Lewis, with Ecology. “We are concentrating on
recovering oil from the water surface, oiled debris and soil.”
The cause of the spill remains under investigation.
Information will be updated at Ecology’s
website on the incident.
