McEvoy Tanker Spill
(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)
Summary Information



Date of Incident:  
Sunday, October 12, 2003, approx. 3:20 a.m.

Location:  
Mile Post 70 HWY 9, near Acme, Washington.
(refer to map) 

Product/Quantity:  
Initial report: 3,000 gallons of fuel, the fuel was a mixture of gasoline and diesel.

Cause:  
Under investigation.

Maps/Drawings

Photos

 

 

Update 10-22-03 

The cleanup contractor removed contaminated soil from the ditch and used a drum skimmer to recover fuel from a wetland pond.  Much of the oil in the wetland could not be recovered and impacts to the wetland are expected to be significant.  A fluorometer was used at the scene by the Ecology NRDA Team to document the path of contaminated water flowing out of the wetland, which was flowing south through ditches to another wetland area.  The water eventually flows into the Samish River, but the oil is not expected to make it through the second wetland.  Numerous water and sediment samples were collected to document impacts.

Background Information 

At about 3:20 a.m., on Sunday,  Oct. 12, 2003; as a result of a traffic accident a 3,000 gallon, fuel spill occurred. The spill was located at mile post 70 on HWY 9, near Acme, Washington.  

McEvoy initiated emergency response efforts, including: the construction of earthen berms to contain the area of the spill; and the use of vacuum trucks,  excavator and roll-off  boxes to clean-up the spill area.

Several organizations responded to this incident, including: Washington Department of Ecology, Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Sheriff's Department of Emergency Management, Whatcom County hazardous materials response team, and Whatcom County Fire District #14, 16, and 18.