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Large Oil Spill from Viewcrest Home: COBI, Health District, Department of Ecology Respond

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by Sarah Lane with Julie Hall

Yesterday morning, January 22, residents from the Lovgreen Road and Viewcrest Avenue area reported a red liquid running down the hill. The source of the leak was a 300-gallon heating oil tank at a home on Viewcrest, a heavily sloped street running west and down from Madison. Heating fuel is dyed red to make it easy to spot.

Fuel ran down the home’s driveway and into the drainage ditch along the road and proceeded down the hill. At the bottom of the hill it crossed the road where it turns south through an under-road culvert and then proceeded to Lovgreen where it headed downhill toward 305. Grant Holdcroft, an Environmental Health Specialist with the Kitsap Public Health District, said that less than 200 gallons leaked out. The fuel traveled 2,200 feet, almost to Highway 305.

KPHD is the lead agency on the response team, which also includes The City of Bainbridge Island and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Holdcroft said that by noon yesterday WSDE was putting down sorbent pads to soak up the fuel. Chuck Krumheuer, the Public Works Manager for COBI, said that the City retained the services of a hazardous materials firm, NRC, which responded by the afternoon to the scene and began pumping out the fuel. The crew worked until after midnight.

Heating oil spill

The drainage pipe by the home. The sorbent pad shows no more fuel is leaking.

The leak is under investigation, and the cleanup effort continues although the leak was stopped yesterday. When asked if the cost of such an effort is very expensive, Holdcroft said, “Yes.” No one would comment on who would be footing the bill for the cleanup effort.

Melva Hill, a City Engineer, asked IB to mention PLIA, the Washington State Pollution Liability Insurance Agency. Hill said that anyone in the state who owns an above-ground or below-ground fuel tank can simply register with PLIA to get no-cost liability coverage. The coverage provides up to $60,000 for cleanup contamination not covered by other insurance and reimbursement of up to $1500 for repairing damages on a neighboring property. PLIA’s website reports that since July of 2012 they have received more than 2,900 claims and spent more than $27 million on cleanups. The agency is funded by the fuel tax. Click here to register your tank.

This morning at 9, representatives from the agencies met in front of the home to plan what steps would need to be taken next in the investigation and cleanup effort. The area still smells of diesel fuel. A press release will be issued by the City later today.

Heating oil spill

Sorbent pads in the ditch.

Heating oil spill

Sorbent pad showing evidence of oil.

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Photos by  Darren Smith and Sarah Lane.


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