On 2/23/10 a truck driver delivering red-dyed diesel fuel to Hartley Farms, 2204 Owyhee Lake Road, Nyssa, Oregon, overfilled a 10,000 gallon tank by an estimated 2,500 gallon. Fuel spilled onto the ground and flowed approximately 75 yards north where it entered the Old Owyhee Ditch, an irrigation canal. During irrigation season the canal is fed by the Owyhee River, and there is a return to the Owyhee River several miles downstream from the spill site. Although it was not irrigation season, there was water in the canal from drainage.
Ontario Fire/Hazmat team responded and installed sorbent boom in the canal. Oregon State OSC Mike Renz also responded that evening from Ontario, and working with the fuel delivery company's cleanup contractor (SREC) installed two underflow dams approximately 1 mile downstream from the spill location, that effectively cut off further downstream migration of the spilled diesel.
FOSC Weigel responded morning of 2/24 and joined Unified Command with the SOSC and PRP representative. The PRP's contractors are implementing field cleanup activities per the Incident Action Plan developed by Unified Command. Operations are ongoing to continue to recover fuel from the approximately 1 mile length of impacted canal, cleanup canal banks, identify extent of soils contamination, and develop plans for removal and disposal of fluids and excavated soils. Until contaminated soils are excavated at the source area, fuel will continue to seep into the canal. Water is expected to be turned into the canal for irrigation use around April 1.
