Yamhill County Sheriff's Department reported that a vessel, registered in Washington State as WN8294T, had run aground on a sand bar near St. Paul and Dayton, Oregon. The bar is located within 1/4 mile downstream of the San Salvadore Landing and Park. The vessel had been grounded since July 24, 2004.
The vessel is a privately owned 37-foot modified 1946 U.S. Navy Captain's launch. The vessel had been taking on water since it grounded, but remained upright on the sandbar.
The San Salvadore Landing and Park is located between river miles 56 and 57 on the east bank of the Willamette River. The Yamhill River flows into the Willamette River downstream from San Salvadore Landing, at Willamette river mile 55. The Willamette River, at this location, is navigable to small boat traffic, and is a couple of hundred feet across. The sand bar is currently about 1 foot below river level, however river level is expected to rise several more feet as the rainy season approaches.
The weather at the site on September 18, 2004, was overcast with intermittent rain and little to no wind. Temperatures were cool, around 55 degrees F.
On September 17, 2004, EPA START was notified that a vessel was grounded in the Willamette River, and that Oregon DEQ planned to conduct a removal action soon. START was tasked to contact DEQ, and to provide documentation support and, if necessary, sampling support during the removal action. START ascertained that the removal was scheduled for September 18, 2004 by DEQ's removal contractor, National Response Corporation (NR Corp.). NR Corp. had already assessed the site to determine hazards and equipment needs.
On September 18, 2004, START met NR Corp. and the Yamhill County Sheriff's Department at San Salvadore Landing. NR Corp. had already pumped water flooding the engine room off the vessel into the hard-boomed area. The Sheriff's Department provided site security and served as a photography platform for START.
NR Corp. pumped a total of 95 gallons of diesel fuel from the vessel (50 gal from the starboard tank, 45 gallons from the port tank), and removed other sources of petroleum, including fuel cans, a generator, quart bottles of oil, and lubricants.
The fuel was pumped into two 55-gallon drums located on board NR Corp.'s skiff. The fuel cans and generator were removed intact. The other containers were bagged.
After returning to the boat launch, all items removed were photographed, and the fuel was pumped from the drums into a vaccuum truck. The other removed items will be relocated to NR Corp.'s warehouse, segregated, and further photographed. The hard-boom and sorbents were then removed, and the green stabilization line (connecting the boat to shore) was removed because it posed a navigation hazard.
START demobed from the site at approximately 1230 hours on September 18, 2004.
No further removal actions are planned by EPA. The disposition of the vessel will be determined by parties other than EPA. The vessel remains as a navigational hazard.
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