FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Update #12 on Olympic Pipeline Gasoline Spill

Please see the most recent statement below from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Ecology, and bp America regarding the Olympic pipeline gasoline spill on Highway 534 in Conway. Skagit County Department of Emergency Management is on site to support the response efforts.

The unified command leading the response to the discharge of gasoline from a vault associated with the Olympic Pipeline in Conway, Washington has the following updates on the progress of cleanup efforts:

On December 27 and 28, crews removed 289 trees in the area bordering the west edge of the farm field and east shoreline of Hill Ditch. Removal of the trees is required for removal of underlying contaminated soil.

Tree removal area adjacent to Hill Ditch.

Approximately 8,324 gallons of gasoline have been recovered to date. Approximately 25,326 gallons were discharged in the incident.

General Information

One lane of SR 534 remains open as cleanup work proceeds. Traffic flaggers are assisting motorists through the area.

Area residents who live along Hill Ditch may continue to see sheen as pockets of gasoline that were trapped by vegetation and other debris on the water and along the shoreline are released by wind, rain, and the natural rise and fall of stream levels. Spill response teams are locating and removing these pockets of gasoline.

Air monitoring conducted at the direction of unified command continues to indicate no public health risk from gasoline fumes.

Members of the public who come upon injured or deceased wildlife are asked not to touch or relocate affected wildlife and to call 1-800-22BIRDS.

A claims center has been established by the Olympic Pipeline. Please call 1-866-616-1558 to report any personal or property damages resulting from the spill.

The unified command consists of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Department of Ecology, Skagit County Department of Emergency Management, bp, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Status updates are posted on Ecology’s website at ecology.wa.gov/OlympicPipelineSpill.

For further information on this incident, contact:

Franji Mayes/Ecology: 360-529-7063
Bill Dunbar/EPA: 206-245-7452
Andrea Harrison/Skagit County: 360-840-2601
Pam Brady/BP: 360-920-1171

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