Hermiston, OR, November 2, 2023 – At 3:00 am this morning, Tidewater Transportation and Terminals became aware of a rail car leaking No. 2 diesel fuel at their Umatilla Terminal. The leak was immediately controlled at the source and the railcar is no longer leaking.

 

Tidewater’s Oil Spill Response Organization and Spill Response Team were promptly notified and mobilized to the site to establish a Unified Command for the Umatilla Diesel Rail Car Release. Other governmental authorities and interested parties, including the United States EPA, United States Coast Guard, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Cities of Hermiston and Umatilla, were also alerted to the release. The Unified Command’s top priorities are to protect public health, safety, and limit environmental impacts as the spill is contained and cleaned-up as quickly and efficiently as possible.

 

Initial reports indicate the released diesel is estimated at 21,000 gallons onto terminal property. At this time, the diesel has not reached the river. Four hundred feet of boom has been deployed in the Columbia River for pre-emptive containment if the spill were to reach water.

 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Clean Rivers Cooperative, and Tidewater have established a safety zone around the site to ensure public safety during the incident response. Air monitoring has been established and all readings are within safe levels. The public is requested to remain a safe distance from the area and to stay off beaches in the area.